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Pablis>hed by 

oard-ofMpe 



^E- 







® 



(5RAN© RAPIBg 



© 



AS IT IS. 



i/ 



PUBLISHED BY THE 



BOARD OF TRADE, 





QUANT) RAPIDS, MICH. 
EATON,'. LYOy <t ALLEN PKINTINO CO. 



Grt'ki|(l qkpicl^ "Board of Yi*kcle. 



OFFICERS, -; 



GEO. G BRIGGS, President. 

L. J. RINDGE, First Vice-President. 

«I. R. COYODE, Second Vice-President. 

C. W WHTKINS, Tliird Vice-President. 
E. CROFTON FOX, Treasurer. H. D. C. VAN flSMUS. Secretary. 



— sses 



DIRECTORS, 



THOMAS D. GILBERT, 
JULIUS HOUSKMAN, 
MOREAU S. CRDSHY, 
W. R. SHELBY, 
J NO. WIDDICUMB, 
JOSEPH HEALI), 
E. B. FISHER, 
JAMES BLAIR, 
T. W. STRAHAN. 
HENKV SPRING, 



BENJAMIN PUTNAM, 
A. B. WATSON, 
j. W. BLODGETT, 
GEORGE G. BRIGGS, 
J. A. COVODE, 
WILLIAM H. POWERS. 
CHARLES H. LEONARD, 
M. R. lilSSELL, 
CHARLES R. SLIGH, 
A. B. KNOWLSON, 
E. CROnON FOX, 



D. II. WATERS, 
C. G. A. VOIGT, 
I. C. LEVI, 
ELIAS M.VTTER, 
WILLIAM DUNHAM, 
AMOS S. MUSSELMAN, 
SIDNEY F. STEVENS, 
O. A. BALL, 
L. J. RINDGE, 
CHARLES W. WATKIN.S. 



(VipyriRhlnd 1888. 



-^Grand Rapids Board of Trade.-H- 

STHNDING COMMITTEES. 
ARBITRATION. 

JAMES BLAIR, ELIAS MATTER. JOSEPB HEALD. 

APPEALS. 
MOREAU S. CROSBY, SIDNEY F STEVENS. A. B. KNOWI^ON . 



TRANSPORTATION. 

JNO. WIDDWOMB, C. G. A. VOIGT L. J. RINDOE. 



PRINTING. 

E. CROFTON FOX, C. H. LEONARD, BENJAMIN PUTNAM. 

STATISTICS. 

CHARLES R. SLICfH, M. B. BISSELL, A. S. MUSSELMAN. 

LEGISLATION. 

IVM. H. POWERS, E. B. FISBER, O. A. BALL. 



AUDITING. 
W. R. SHELBY, WM. DUNHAM, T. W. STRAHAN. 

PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS. 

A. H. WATSOX. D. H. WATERS, J. W. BLODGETT, 

C. W. WATKINS, I. C. LEVI. 



MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS. 

T. I>. GILBERT, HENRY SPRING, JULIUS HOUSEMAN, 

JNO. A. COVODE, WU. H. POWERS. 

GRAIN AND PRODUCE. 

O. K. BROWN. C. G .\. VOIGT, E. A. MOSELEY, .l.\ii. KuIVI.S. 

A. J. BROWN. W. N. ROWE, W. T. LA.MOREAUX. 

LUMBER. 

E. CROFTON FOX, ./. B. WHITE, A. G. HODENPYL. 

PROVISIONS. 

ALFRED BROAD, H. N. MOORE. JOHN MOHRHARD. 



TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATIONS: 

In compiling the pamphlet which has been intrusted to your hands by the Board 
of Trade, it is the desire of that honorable body that you make use of such ma- 
terial as may be necessary to show to the uninformed person the City of "Grand 
Rapids as it is." It is their wish that no extravagant claims be put forth as to 
the magnitude of the mercantile, manufacturing and social advantages of the city; 
that no wild speculative prophecies as to the future greatness of Grand Rapids be 
indulged in, but that your work be characterized with facts moderately expressed 
and which will stand the fullest investigation. The Board of Trade calls your atten- 
tion to the fact that our fiscal institutions, jobbing and manufacturing trades are 
conducted on correct business principles; that there has never been an attempt to 
■'boom" the interests of the city for purely speculative purposes; that it is a hive 
of industry, a city of homes, a center of culture; that its growth has been steady 
and solid from tlie day of its incorporation. 

These suggestions should indicate to you the character of the matter that is 
desired for publication under the above caption. There is no impropriety in stating 
this Board invites personal inquiry or correspondence from individuals, firms or cor- 
porations contemplating or desiring to make a cliange of location, and you are 
requested to give space in the work to the mention of such industries and trades 
as could be established with fair prospects of success in Grand Rapids. 

Yours sincerely, 

H. D. C. VAN ASMUS, 

Secretary of Board of Trade. 



fvli^'bigan and l[$ ^$o\\rQQ$. 




H'llIGAN derives ils nnme from the Imlian words 
.Uih/ii'S<iU'^ycx<iii, which signify " lake country " — a 
jiecuharly appropriate term, since the Stale is, to a 
considerable extent, surrounded by water. From 
its discovery (al)out 1610) it made very slow progiess 
■ in settlement and population up to 1820. Prior to 
1763, the territory was claimed, or governed, by the 
French. In the year last named it was ceded to 
Great Britain; and in 1783, at the close of the 
revolutionary struggle, it was transferred to the 
United Stales. 

Up to the year 1S02 it was a part of the great 
Northwest territoiy. Various acts of Congress 
altered the boundaries, until, in 1S37, when Michigan was formally admitted 
into thi- Inion, ils present limits were defined. 

THE FIRST SETTI.KMENTS. 

As early as 161 2, French navigators skirled the shores of Michigan, and 
Jesuit missions are said to have been founded in the Upper Peninsula in 1641. 
l-A rilF.R M.\i;qii.ttic founded a mission at .Sault-deSte.-Marie in 1668, and 
another in the following year at the point now known as St. Ignace. These 
are regarded as the first white settlements within the present limits of the 
State. In 1701, Cadillac arrived at Detroit with a company of one hun- 
dred men, one half of whom were artisans or tradesmen; and this period is 
1 liaracterized by Judge Camtisf-LL as "the beginning of the settlement of 
Michigan for purposes of habitation and civil institutions." 

In the year 1800, the entire northwest territory contained about 43,365 
inhabitants; W.iync county contained 3,206 inhabitants, and Detroit con- 
tained about 300 houses. The only cultivated lands were contained in the 
strip, six miles wide, bordering on the Detroit River and the lakes, with the 
exception of a few hundred acres under tillage in the vicinity of Mackinaw. 

Wii LIAM lIii.T, was appointed Governor of the territory in 1805, and 
he rc.ichcd Detroit July I of that year. The difficulty of securing clear titles 
to the land operated as a serious obstacle to the settlement of Michigan. In 
1S07, Congress furnished relief by the passage of an act confirming in their 
titles all grantees or heirs prior to July i, 1796; no tract, however, to exceed 
640 acres in extent. 

Lkwis Cass w.as appointed Temtorial Governor in 1812, succeeding 
Gov. Ihi.L. Ill 1S19, the territory was allowed a delegate in Congress, and 
William Woodhridce, who afterw-ards was chosen United States Senator, 
was elected. Hy the census of 1820, it was shown that fhe population had 
doubled since 1810. The public lands were opened for sale in 1818, and 



from that time on the growth and development of the territory continued 
at a steady and accelerating rate. 

BECOMING A STATE. 

The first Constitutional Convention met in Detroit on the second Mon- 
day of May, 1835. A State Constitution was adopted, which was ratified by 
the people, and State officers were elected on the first Monday of October, 
1S35. The first State Legislature met on the first Monday of November, 
1835, and on the loth of the same month I.ucius Lyon and John Norvell 
were elected L'nited States Senators. The final act of Congress admitting 
Michigan to the Union was approved January, 26, 1837, the State being the 
twenty-sixth admitted. 

THE COI'PER MINES. 

The northern peninsula of the State is very rich in mineral resources, 
containing the most extensive and valuable copper mines in the world, and 
producing more iron ore than any other Stale in the L'nion. Portions of 
the Upper Peninsula are also covered with dense forests of valuable timber, 
which will be a source of great wealth in the near future. 

In all respects consistent with her geographical location and physical 
resources, this great commonwealth ranks well up in the sisterhood of States. 
She has many natural advantages which others do not possess; vast wealth 
of forest and soil and mine; a climate remarkably mild for the latitude, and 
in the main salubrious; a population made up of industrious, intelligent and 
thrifty people; and a government wisely administered, with its burdens 
judiciously equalized. \\"nh .nil these and many minor circumstances in her 
favor, the future of the coninionweallh, from whatever point of view consid- 
ered, must be regarded as exceptionally auspicious. 

In the production of iron, plaster, copper, lumber and salt, Michigan 
stands first in the list of States. T-ibulated st.-itistics are given elsewhere in 
this article, covering a long period of years, and showing the growth of 
these great industries from their infancy to the present time. 

Michigan ranks high as a hcallhy State; only six States had less deaths 
during the census year, in proportion to population: these being, in the 
order named, Oregon, Minnesota, Nevada, Florida, Iowa and \Vest Virginia. 
Michigan has held her present rank, in this regard, for forty years. 

The flouring interest is among the more important in the Slate, the 
total number of mills being 706, with a capital of $7,704,464, employing 
2,254 men, with an annual product valued at $23,546,875. The Slates of 
New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Ohio, Missouri, Indiana and 
Wisconsin are the only ones exceeding Michigan in the value of this product. 

The population of Michigan in 1880, as shown by the United States 
census of that year, was 28.5 to the square mile. In 1870 it was 20.6; in 
i860 it was 13; in 1850 it was 6.9; and in 1840 it was 3.7. 



MICHIGAN HND ITS RESOURCES. 



The fullowing summary shows ihe increase of j>opulation as dcduceil 
from Ihe State ami L'nileil Stales censuses since iSoo: 




avmiai;b 

ANNUAL 
INCKKASR. 



1800 

I81II 
liOO 

|H3I> 
IfitU 

vaa 

IMIO 
IMl 
IH70 
lfl71 
I88U 
IMHI 



■, "M 
l,7«! 

.■'.MM 

■M,es» 

■SIH.KA 

riW,52i , 

71»,1I3 

tMs.uei 

l.l»t,282 [ 
1,334,031 
l,«S6.981 
l,K>3,fSS8 



4.-J1I 
4.i:u 

'ii,<43 

lh«I.H> 

1mS,3h7 

I 
1093W ■ 

I 

iii.sw 

r4,54^ 
380.621 
UV.H9 . 
302,9f)6 
218,721 



1.211 


764 24 


421 10 


4.134 


)« hi 


413.40 


22,743 


205 65 


•2,274 30 


1WJ.«2S 


570 «0 


18,(J62.S0 


I'ts.ssr? 


N7.SS 


1S.53S 70 




27.62 
47 60 


27,466 75 


351.459 


40.265.33 




7.28 


tl3,6CT.OO 


4sri,ie9 


47.36 


63,436 83 




12 64 
22.71 


37.437.25 


452,655 


50.4M.S3 




13.24 


54,1W.25 







* KxlIuuvc of Wayne couD(y, which w.-ift returned with Ohio. 
t Eicluttve of loldiers in the field. 

The whole nunilwr ol families in ihc Stale is relurncd at 403,779, anil 
the total number o( duellings at 364,737. The average number ol persons 
to each family is 4.59, and to each dwelling 4.9. The number ol families in 
cities IS relumed at 108,^57, and the number of dwellings in cities at 93,661. 

The niiml)cr of native inhabitants is returned at 1,357,639; loreign 
l>orn, 486,90s; n.ilivity unknown, 9,051. The increase of native population 
since 1880 is 109,110, .ind of loreign l)orn 98,460. The number of males of 
%'oling age in the Slate is 538,177, of whom 150,178 reside in the incorpor- 
ated cities. The nunilx;r of inhabitants of school ages is 596,893, or 32 per 
cent, of the total |K>pulalion. The number of persons of military age (l8 to 
45)15419,583. 

The number of wage workers in Michigan June I, 1884, was returned 
.IS 69,027, of whom 64,390 are males and 4.637 are females. The number 
of males engaged in agriculture is 237,192; females, 1,000. The number of 
males engaged in agriculture is 32 per cent., in professional and personal 
service 15 percent., in trade and transportation 9 percent., and in manu- 
facturing, mechanical and mining industries 20 per cent, of the total male 
population 10 years old and over. 

THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. 

Among the most imjKirlant factors in the development ol the Male is ii.s 
school system. The following table shows the growth of ihc system during 
the h.-ilf century Irom 1836 to 1886, inclusive: 



IKV. 
IHIII 
IKV) 
INIUI 

ih;i. 

IMI 
l>«« 



or SCHOOL. 


NO OP 
UlSTKICn. 


NO or 

TRACHBRS. 


:<• 


55 


» 


M> 


1..VM 


1,870 


102 


S.IW 


4,aK; 


124 


4.0KJ 


7.K1 


IS» 


&.1U8 


11,014 


I5tt 


6.!B2 


ia.<HV 


151 

1 


«.1»;8 


15.ffl8 



CMILDItRN. 



TOTAL 

AHorirr taih 

T«ACHKH.s. 



fUW 


t *,uo.a2 


48.817 


42.310 46 


132,2:14 


1 l(i,f^9 is 


2H1,^<'J 


4i;s.i*sH .'iO 


W4,S&4 


i.aw^Mss 


- - --i 


I.IM'.IKJ w 




2,M2.41)fi IS 



School population 

School eniollment 

No. of ungraded school districts.. . 

N'o. of graded school districts 

Na of school houses 

Estimated value ol school property 

Average school year in months 

Average wages of teachers per month, males .. 
Average wages of teachers per month, females. 



Kevenue — l>alance from preceding year 

Revenue from primary school interest fund., 

kevenue from one-mUl tax on township* 

Revenue from district taxes for all purposes. 
Revenue from all other sources 



Total revenue. 



6U5.904 

416.751 

6.536 

442 

7.237 

siLsaasTioo 

7 2 

S4S07 

31.20 

•l.SOl.451.67 

762.402.78 

640.217.02 

2736.238.81 

494,133 16 

S5.634.44S 44 



CHURCHES. 



The total number of church organizations in the .-^taic is reuimeii ai 
2,864; church edifices, 2,581; and parsonages, 1,117. The following state- 
ment sho»vs the growth of church organizations from 1870 to 1884: 



No. ol church organixatioos . 

No. of parsonages 

Seating capacity 

Value of church property 



In the following summary is indicated Ihe school population, number of 
districts, value of pro|>erly, condition of revenue, etc., at the close of the 
year 1KK6. The sliouiiig is particularly gratifying, and is one in which 
every ciliicn may justly take pride: 



I870L 
2.230 


isa,. 

2.864 
1.117 


447.476 
$8,947,491 


7ffi414 
•IS. 296.151 



STATE HNANCES. 

The financial condition of the State is excellent, as is shown by the lol- 
lowing statement issued by the State Treasurer. The 1-cgislature of 1887 
passeil an act changing the close of the fiscal year from September 30 to 
June 30, hence the last report of the State Treasurer covers a period of nine 
months only, extending from Octotier I, 18S6, to June 30, 1887. It con- 
tains the following figures: 

Balance on hand Sept, aa 188S • 911.997.86 

Thcreceipts were 2.118.334.42 



The payments were . 



«s.caasn.aB 

2.165. 543.75 



llalance in Treasuo' --- • "W-'^ M 

The outstanding bonded debt of the State is as follows: 

Past due part paid five-million loan bonds. (191000, adjustable at $Si8.S7 per 

$1,000 (not tearing interest) • latSZ.SS 

War bounty loan Innds, 7 percent, due in IBBO 2SI.O0O 00 

The trust fund debt, composed of balances upon which the State. :is 
trustee paj-s interest for educational purposes, now is: 

Agricultural College fund • »?%(»». 30 

Normal School fund '" "HH 12 

Primary School fund. 7 per cent *3.3»».9W.6K 

Primary School fuml. 5 per cent.... 37K713.92 

(0.768.710 60 

VTniversily fund rJB.II3S 80 



Aggre^tate balance i'( irii^i liind. 



»».»!«.•.. «2I 72 



The total assessed valuotion of property in the State, as equalized in 
1886, was $945,450,000, of which $710,633,545.20 was on real estate, and 
5138.287,518.38 was on personal estate. In 1881 the aggregate valuation 
ol real and personal estate was (810,000,000. 



INDL-STKIES OF THE STATE. 



Among the great industries of the Stale that of agriculture greatly 
exceeds every other, l>olh as regards value ol properly, value of product and 
number of men employed. The farm pnxluctions of Michigan are valued. 



MICHIGAN HND ITS RESOURCES. 



in the census of 1884, at SS5,Sgo,og4. Tl>c following table shows, in a 
condensed form, some of the more imporlaut facts relating to the extent and 
condition of this great industry ; 



MANUFACTURES. 



JUNE, I, 1884. 



No. of farms 

No. of farms cultivated by owner 

No. of acres 

No. of acres in each farm — average 

No. of acres improved land 

Value of farms, including land, fences, and buildings — dol- 
lars 

Value of farming implements and machinery — dollars 

Value of live stock — dollars 

No. of horses 

No. of mules and asses 

No. of sheep (exclusive of spring lambs) 

No. of fleeces of wool 

No. of pounds of wool sheared 

Average No. pounds per head 

Maple sugar — pounds 

Acres in apple orchards 

Acres in peach orchards 

Acres in vineyards 

Acres in nurseries 

Acres barley 

Acres buckwheat 

Acres Indian corn 

Acres oats 

Acres rye 

Acres winter wheat 

Acres spring wheat 

Acres pears 

Acres beans 

Acres potatoes 

Acres pasture, clover, timothy, etc 



159,605 

138,523 

14,852,228 

93.06 

8,974,656 

571,448,462 

21,897,486 

70,626,248 

446,206 

4,820 

2,889,278 

2,724,789 

15,337,249 

5.64 

1,945,863 

312,716 

24,502 

3,228 

862 

54,620 

26,148 

1,207,6M 

891,022 

51,881 

1,684.679 

33,074 

58,147 

48,731 

191,408 

1,812,385 



JUNE, I, 1880. 



154,008 

138,597 

13,807,240 

90.00 

8,296,862 

499,103,181 

19,419,360 

55,720,113 

378,778 

5,038 

2,189,389 

2 189,389 

11,858,497 

5.42 

.3,423,149 



The following shows the total numlier of pcreons engaged in agriculture, 
and in each specified branch of agriculture, as returned in the State census 
of 1884, and the United States census of 1880: 



Apiarists 

Dair>'men and dairy women 

Farm overseers 

Farmers 

Farm laborers 

Florists 

Gardeners, nurserymen, and fruit growers. 

Stock drovers 

Stock herders 

Stock raisers 

Others in agriculture 

Total 



1884. 



149 

141 

85 

178,551 

55,347 

122 

2,489 

2.34 

31 

35 

8 



237,192 



57 

80 

89 

167,141 

70,845 

84 

1,836 

172 

42 

20 

3 



240,319 



It is worthy of note that much of the finest farming land in Southern 
and Central Michigan was regarded in the early pioneer days as worthless 
swamp land. These despised acres have now liccomc the garden-spot of the 
Slate. 



As the leading industries arc summarized separately the following gen- 
alization will be sufiAcient under this head: 



Total No. of manufacturing establishments 

Capital invested 

Average No. of males employed above 16 years.. 
Average No. of females employed above 15 years 

-Average No. of children and youth 

Wages paid during year ending June i 



1880. 



1884. 



8,873 


9,302 


J92,9S0,959 


8136,697,397 


68,445 


114,890 


4,784 


8,245 


4,382 


5,872 


$25,313,682 


*4J,213.739 



The material used in 2,228 manufacturing establishments, or more than 
one-fourth of the whole number in the Slate, is taken directly from the forest 
tree. The capiLil invested in such establishments, as shown by the last 
census, was, in 1884, $62,303,000; average number of adult males employed, 
50,044; adult females, 866; children and youth, 2,431. Wages paid during 
the year ending June 1st, 1884, $17,310,227. 

RAILROADS OF THE STATE. 

From the fifteenth annual report of the Commissioner of Railroads, it 
apjKars that there were in Michigan, on the ist of January, 1887, 5,577.63 
miles of railroad, exclusive of 1,292.30 miles of siding, and 89 miles of sec- 
ond or double main track, which would bring the total mileage, computed 
as a single track, up to 6,958.93, or about one mile of track for each nine 
square miles of our territorial area, and four miles for each township of six 
miles square. From statistics on hand at the date of publication of his 
report (Nov. I, 1S77), the Commissioner estimated the tot.il mileage of the 
State on the ist of January, 1888, at 6,295.38, exclusive of sidings and 
double tracks. In addition should be mentioned about 500 miles of logging 
railroads. Much of this track is built in a substantial manner, and is util- 
ized for general trafl'ic. 

The capital stock of the incorporated railways of the State, as stated by 
the reports for 18S6, aggregated $276,843,554. 

The entire indebtedness oi the railroads, at the beginning of the year 
1887, was as follows: 

Funded debt, 92.85 per cent $328,226,163.33 

Floating debt, 7.13 per cent 25,170,.iM.35 

Total $358,396,717.98 

The total cost of our railroad proijerties, including equipments, at the 
Beginning of 1887, is reported at $579,945,425.48, representing an outlay of 
$51,946.23 per mile of road. The total o[>erating expenses, including taxes, 
for 1S86, were $54,216,624.19, and the total revenue of the 67 companies 
was $83,898,560.20 — an increase of receipts during the year of $5,807,312.67, 
or 7.436 per cent. 

LUMBER. 

The lumbering industry of Michigan is the most extensive, in productive 
value, of any in the Slate, with the exception of agriculture. It also exceeds 
in magnitude that of any other State in the Union. This gigantic industry 
has grown up, in a large degree, within the last quarter of a century. The 
lumbering region, proper, of the Lower Peninsula lies north of a line running 
through Sanilac, L.tpeer, Genesee, Shiawassee, Clinton, Ionia, Kent and 
Ottawa counties. In the Upiwr Peninsula, belts of limber abound on the 
principal streams. 

The number ol persons employed in the manufacture of lumber and 
shingles, in the Stale, during ihe List year, is estini.aied al 50,000, receiving, 
in the aggregate, about $15,000,000 in wages. The capital invested in the 
industry is about $60,000,000. The tola, product of the State, last year, 
was 4,162,317,778 feet of lumber, valued at $58,370,438; and of shingles, 
2.677.855,750, valued at $6,673,387.50. Total value of product. $65,043,- 
825.50. 



MICHIGHN AND ITS RESOURCES. 



The following companions show the increase in the lumber and shingle 



1SS7. 



Lumber (feci) . 
Shingle* (piccc«j . 



I.182.S17.778 
i677.8S5.750 



3.984.117.175 
2.W9,134.2S2 



3.578.138.443 
2.574.675.900 



Thus, it will be seen, the increase of lumber production in 1886 over 

1885 was 405,978,732 feet; of 1887 over 1886, 178,200,603 feet. The 
increase ol shingles in 1S86 over 1885 was 414,448,332; and the decrease of 
■«<!7 from 1886 was 311,268,382. 

The lumber protiucl of Michigan mills, in 1887, is shown in detail 

below: FtrT. 

Saginaw River milU 779.6fil.'i65 

Huron ^hore m>U> .555.555.730 

Michigan Central Railroad (Mackinaw Dirisioo) 124.392.261 

Flint & Pcre .Marquette Railroad 91.441.220 

Cheboj'Ran 

Manistee 

Ludinglon , 

Muskegon 

WhiteLakc 

Grand Haven and Spring Uike 52.00a000 

Chicago .1 West Michigan Railroad 136.856.750 

Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad ; 296.774.246 

Detfoil. I.ansing & Northern Railroad 85.574.032 

Miacellaneous Lower Michigan mdls 94.495.834 

Green Bay (Michigan) mills 38L824.680 

Mi!^cllaneout Upper Michigan milU 348.645.641 



87.443.000 
2S8.3S.476 
137.250.380 
665.449.921 

84.323.440 



Total 



The shingle product of Michigan (or the 
follows: 

Saginaw River mUls ... 

Huron Shore mill* 

Michigan Central Railroad (Mackinaw Diviiion) 

Flint and Pcre Marquette milU 

Cheboygan 

Mani»tee . . 

Ludtngtoii 

Muskegon 

White Lake... 

Grand Haven anil Spring I,.ike 

Chicago and West Michigan Railn>.-itl 

Grand Rapidi & Iniliana Railroad . . 
Detroit. l.ansing A Northern Railro.fl 
Mi*cellaneou« mill», I>ower Michigan 

Green Itay (Michigan) milts 

Miuellaneout rotlls. Upper Michigan 

Total.., 



4,162.317.778 

past year is, in detail, as 



PiBCRS. 

i96.SMS.ono 

5.1.413.000 
63.500.000 
175.21 1.2:0 

u.ooaooo 

433.131.750 

79.S57..VX) 

.520..'.3l.75O 

52020.500 

41.275.000 

136.856.750 

27.1.208.000 

351.386.000 

71. P.'.-. I "HI 



11'' 



;.'.ii 



',|...IMII.II4I 



THE MIMNC: INDUSTRY. 



In the (ollowing table is s.iown the aggregate number of mines in the 
>iaic, the capital invested, Ih.- number ot h.imls employed, and the total 
amount of wages paid: 



AVKR \c.r 



AMilfN r PAIO 



Coal 4 

Copper 2S 

Grindft|nn«« % 

(•ypftum, platier md »tur-- p 

Iron ''■-' 

Umc and huildinE vtonr ■> 

SUle 1 

Total j 106 



tAI"ITAL 




INVKSTCO, 


.-... 


. JT.SSO 


363 


2S.3I3.HS0 


6.296 


lOKono 


161 


Ml. 000 


344 


11.916. nn 


5.808 


25,300 


223 


*j 1 ■ 1 » , ' 


I'lO 


HI.44tV«rj 


13.191 



71.003 
S. 164.548 





55.100 




91..ViO 




28M.821 




10.233 




SUIOO 




«,M,1SS 



The copper mines of the State are located in the Upj>cr Peninsula, and 
are said to be the richest and most extensive copper mines in the world. 
The mines are situated in Houghton, Ontonagon, Keweenaw and Isle Royale 
counties. From the following table, it will be seen that the output has 
increased about twelve fold since 1855. The product is given in tons ol 
refined copper, fractions of tons being omitted: 



mss. ""*■ 



Previous to 1835 6,992 

1855 2.904 

1856 4.1(M 

1857 4,765 

1858 4,579 

1858 4,463 1868 10,467 

1860 6,034 ] 1869 13,312 

1861 7,519! 1870 12,311 



8 492 1872. 12 366 

6,015 1 1878. 15,0».-. 

7,197 '1874 17.166 

8.875 1875 18.019 

8.763 1878 19.1S."V 

ISn .19.513 

1878. 50.845 

1879 21,425] 



.27,271 
.28,577 



1881.... 
1882... 
1883.... 

1S84 34,297 

1885 36,093 

1886 35.000 



1N62. 



.6.7931 



.13,373,1880 31,889 



The average price of copper per pound is a trifle less than eleven cents, 
which would make the value of the copper product for the year 1S86 (the 
last year for which statistics are available) about seven and a half millions 
of dollars. The product for the past year is probably in the neighborhood 
of 40,000 tons. 

The iron mining interests of the State are among the most important 
industries. The output for 1887 was 4,393,853 tons, valued, in round num- 
bers, at $23,000,000. The following tabulated statement shows, more 
forcibly than words, the growth ol this great industry from the earliest times 
of which any record was kept until the present: 



TOKS. VBAIL 



Years unknown 
from the Jack- 
son. Marquette 
and abandon- 
ed mines 75.0R3 

1854 3.000 

1855 1.449 

1856 8.790 

1857 25.646 

1858 22.876 

1859. 68.832 



TONS. VEAB. 



186a... 


... U4.401 


1«81 


49.909 


1>^2 


124.166 


1*«S 


203.055 


IflM .... 


. .217.059 


1S65 


193,758 


1886 


196.713 


1867 


465.504 


1868 


510.522 


18B9. ... 


639.097 



TONS. VBAS. 



1870 SS0;5O7 

1871 813.984 

1872 S48.SSS 

1878 1.195.234 

1874 899.931 

1875 8S1.166 

1878 993.311 

1877 1025.129 

1878 tI27.5J3 

1879 L430.745 



133a 1.948,384 

1881 2.125.728 

1882. 2.656.923 

1*«... 2.5ia048 

1S>44 2.225.145 

1S« 2205.190 

1886 3.562.015 

1887 4.393.858 

34.84&ig7 



The report of State Salt Inspector for the month of Fcbruar)-, 1888, 
shows the following quantities inspected in the counties named: 



rorsTiiw. 



Saginaw 72.882 



Bay 

Manistee. 
Midbn.! 
M.isi>n 
St CI..11 
Huron. . . 



ia787 

10.816 

3.070 

LS41 

1.088 

49! 



Total 108,458 

These figures show a marked falling off in point cl manufacture from 
the corresponding month in previous years, but this results from obctltence 
to the rei)uest of the Salt Association to limit the output during the winter, 
with a view to reducing the large surplus on hand. The price of salt has 
fincluated so widely during the p.-ist quarter of a century that it would be 
very difficult to estimate, wilh any approximation to accuracy, the toi.il v.ilue 
of the product. The following table shows the number of barrels pixnluced 
from lSf>o In 1S87, inclusive: 



v«*». 





1 AE. 


CAIIIIU.-.. 


VKAa. 


RAIIIIKU. 


1880 


.... 4.008 


1887 


...474.721 


WJ4.... 


...MIRfW 


ixil 


. zna.2u 


1H61 


125.000 


1H68. 


...555.890 


1875... 


....l.if-' 




3.tW7.8l7 


1862 


243.000 


lHf» 


. 561.288 


1878. . . . 


.. .1.1'. 




2.)«4.ff7S 


1868 


UVyXA 


ISTO 


821.352 


isn... 


i.Aeaav; 


IH84.. . 


3.161.806 


1884 


. . 529.073 


1871 


...928.175 


1878.... 


... L8S5.8W 


I'.VT, 


3,300.000 


1865 


.477.300 


1872..... 


...734.481 


im?.... 


...2.066. out 




X50a000 


1888 


....4cr7.on 


1871..... 


... 83.846 


1880.... 


....2(rr- ■ 




: XD 



Michigan w.-ui the first St.ite to engage in the -^. 
annual output is more than double that of any other State in the Union. 




i.llU'>lSI \11\\ lU'AI li,i,,l -ip"'i i.k. ilMi 




»;rani> KAi'ins pi.astku <<».s mu.us and <.>UARRit>;. 




1. Logs piled up against D. G. II. & M. K. R. Hriil-c ; tlraiul R^ipi.ls Chair Cii. lailory iii ilic ai.-^ljiici:. 

2. Log Drivers at work trying to prevent the destruction of the I\;iilroad Hridge. 
.■;. The Log Jam dt•^,troying the (.. R. & I. and I.. S. & M S. Railroad Bridges. 




llll 1.1 ii; J.Wl IN (IK.VNI) UIV|:k, .\r (JRANU K.MMDS. JUI.V 26. 1883. 




KKl.lJ > LAKl- SUHLKbS UK GRAMi RAlllJN 




(iKAM) kivKu ruitM p.KiiK.i: sTKir.T imii)(;F.. 



'3&i>s!mmmsmiiimmim«!mmmmsmmm^^ 




adM3sl(ffil(lMt!fllS)|]MlM),S(fgi:s>.Sa^^ 



:i1ie (^ilV of gFaiifl Rapids. 




Its Location, Early History, Surrouridirigs and the Attractive Features it 
Presents to those SeeKing to Settle in an Enterprising City. 



'^^y XCE upon a time a solitary horseman might have been" 
— tlie oKl fornuihi for beginning a story, required that a 
location, a place for a start, should be provided. In 
lelling tlie story of Grand Rapids it is hardly necessary, 
in the business circles of larger cities of the world, to 
give its sltirv a location — the fame of the town has 
gone aliroad in all tlie land. Hut, lest there may be 
some who may see this who have not yet a clear idea 
of its location, it may be well to say that it is in the 
western portion of the Lower Pennisula of the State of 
Michigan. It is the second city in population, wealth and business import- 
ance, and the first in energy and ambition in the State. It is the shire town 
of Kent county, which is in the fourth tier of Michigan counties from the 
south and in the second row east of Lake Michigan. It lies on both sides 
of the (Irand Kiver, at the head of navigation of tliat stream. 

At this point there is quite a fall in the river, its rapids, whence the 
name of the city, and to this fact is due one of the important early advan- 
tages of the city — a fine water power, tlio best in the Slate save that at Sault 
Sle. Marie. The city is, by rail, thirty-two miles from Grand Haven, the 
lake port at the mouth of Grand River; 147 from Detroit, 183 from Chicago, 
304 from Cincinnati, and 226 from the Straits of Mackinac. As appears 
fiom the railroad map on the cover of this pulilicalion, it is at the center of 
the known earth -a point where the sky, equally distant in every direction, 
shuts down over the landscape like the half of an orange peel. 

THE CITY PROPER. 

The city proper is three and a half miles long and three miles wide; 
but its suburbs on every side are directly connected by street cars with the 
business center, and the city really is much larger in size and population 
than the municipality controlled by the City Charter. It is in the midst of 
as fine a section of country *' as the sun e'er shone ujion *' — a region especi- 
ally favorable to the husbandman or the horticulturist, where agriculture, 
stock raising, dairying and fruit growing are followed with most encouraging 
results and satisfactory profits. The soil, a sandy, gravelly loam — some of 
it heavy timbered land, o( beech, maple, oak and elm, other of it oak open- 
ings, still other pine lands with a plenlilul sprinkling of interspersed hard- 
wood timber — furnishes all needful varieties for all manner of vegetables, 
grains and roojs, for excellent pastures and meadows, for thrifty, productive 
orchards — in short a soil where an honest day's work wins a sure rew.ard in 
an honest day's returns. 

rilK I-KUIT BK1.T. 

In this same connection, or at this |)oinl, it may properly be mentione<I 
thai Grand Rapids is at the center of what is popularly and very properly 
known as ihe " Fruit Hell" o( Michigan, and ils actual commercial center. 



" Michigan I'Vuit " has long had a most enviable reputation — " no bet- 
ter grows." Since the great Centennial Exposition, at which Michigan won 
first honors in pomology, this fact has been recognized throughout the 
whole land; and the Fruit Belt's products were what secured this fully 
deserved reputation. The annual fairs at Grand Rapids each fall afford 
exhibits of fruit that cannot be equaled elsewhere in the United States. 
These displays include, in home-grown fruits, the very finest apples, 
peaches, pears, plums, grapes, quinces, crabapples, and a great variety of 
berries, as blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, black, red and white, blue 
or whortleberries, and apricots; melons of various kinds are also grown in 
great quantities. These fruits are all of good size, but, more especially, of 
very superior flavor and firmness, and have admirable keeping qualities. 

The area that may be devoted to this culture comprises many hundreds 
of thousands of acres; though already large, this interest may be expanded 
almost indefinitely, dependent only on profitableness of the business, the 
demand of the market, both for present use and either for canning or other 
methods of preservation. 

THE LUMBER INTERESTS. 

The mention of the character of the soil caused some reference to the 
timber of the adjacent country. It is apropos at this point to speak of this 
signal advantage of Western Michigan, of which Grand Rapids is the 
admitted metropolis. It is known of all men that for many years this State 
has been the chief producer of pine lumber in the Union; no other Com- 
monwealth has placed nearly so much nor so good pine lumber on the 
markets of the entire country for many years past. 

The gross product for the year 1887 was well toward five thousand mill- 
ion feet, valued at $65,000,000, and this annual total will not be very largely 
decreased lor the next decade to come. Grand Rapids lies at the southern 
base of the great pine region — Grand River has floated out many hundreds 
of millions feet of the choicest timber, which was sawed at this point, or at 
the mouth of the river; while on the lines of the railroads leading into the 
country north of the city, clear to the Straits of M.ackinac, local mills have 
cut even a larger total. 

HARDWOOD TIMHEK. 

But great as this wealth of pine has been, and yet is, one of the most 
intelligent of the veteran manufacturers of lumber in Michigan, a gentleman 
who has been identified with its lumber interests for nearly forty years, and 
has become a millionaire thereby, sta'.cd at the recent State Forestry Con- 
vention in Grand Rapids that the hardwood wealth of the Stale, yet unde- 
veloped, is greater than the pine wealth ever was. This hardwood wealth, 
consisting chiefly o( beech, maple (including the famous curly or birdseye 
varieties), oak, elm, ash, hickory, butternut, birch, basswood, and sycn 
more, in the different varieties, is almost innumerable in iiuanlily, and unsur- 



THE CITY OF GRAND RflPIDS. 



)>a&scd in tjualily. There U also a vast amount of hemlock, cedar and other 
evergreen timber wealth in Western Michigan. Grand Rapids is admirably 
located to secure the very choicest of this forest wealth. Its railroad 
connections, north, south, cast and west, elsewhere described, give it 
unrivaled facilities for reaching the forests, and at most advantageous rates 
of freight, cither for the logs or the lumlwr. Its factories, already using 
many million feet annually, could increase the quantity required almost 
indefinitely without seriously trenching on the supply or being compelled 
to go so far as to find it too expensive. 

THE RISE ANIJ GROWTH OP GRAND RAPIDS. 
In this ultitarian age the workaday, busy world cares very little for 
ancestry; what they can do in the present, or for posterity, is what chiefly 
concerns those who are considering their important interests in life, whether 
business, social, educational or moral. Yet there's a good deal in blood, in 
heredity, and this applies to communities as well as families or individuals. 
A brief resume ol the history of Grand Rapids, so admirably located in 
such an ailmirable region with reference to its agricultural and timber wealth, 
is of value ;us a suggestion of the inevitable future of the city. What it has 
achieved anil what it is doing give a sure guaranty of what it will be and do. 

The aborigines of Michigan held the site of the city in very high 
regard. It was one of their most important villages, where they had a corn- 
field and a cemetery. Hence it was very natural that the energetic early 
French traders— those first pioneers of civilization in so many portions ol our 
Northwest territory— came here to the heart of the Indian country to ply 
their business. The year 1827 found them at the rapids of the river, ready 
to barter for peltry, and almost immediately missionaries followed. So what 
is now the city was thus a trading post and missionary post several years 
before what was intended lor a permanent settlement ol whites was effected. 
That auspicious event occurred in June, 1833, some four years before the 
Slate became one of the sisters of the Union. These early settlers from new 
States had stout hearts and strong hands, coupled with rare good sense and 
intelligence and unl>ounded energy and ambition. While it is in a modified 
sense that cities grow naturally, where conditions are favorable, yet it is 
undeniably a fact that the character of the founders, of the early promoters 
of a community, has much, very much, to do with the growth and success 
of any city. li they be live, energetic, sagacious, enterprising men, who 
make the most of their natural advantages, who push their business rather 
than depend on good fortune and those advantages, their town will cert.iinly 
pass many others with equal natural opportunities in the race for position, 
for manufacturing or commercial supremacy. Such were the " Yankees " of 
fifty- five years ago who founded this city. The bi.is then given the com- 
munity has grown with passing years— its heredity dominates it, and this 
tendency, this sentiment ol energy, enterprise and thrift has become an 
essentia] part of the innermost feeling of the people. 

EARl.Y ENTERPRISES. 
Those early comers — industrious, frugal — were quick to seize and make 
the most of their advantages. They had the spirit of manufacture and of 
commerce. A sawmill was in actual operation here in 1833, and another 
within a year was quickly followed by several others, and by other mills, 
furniture and chair factories, flouring mills, lioring for salt and other indust- 
rial enterprises. And trading h.id l>een profitable here for several years 
lieforc the Indians ceded the whole of what is now Grand Rapids to the 
United States. 



In 1836 the first steamboat was built for navigation on Grand River, 
to supersede the canoes and pole boats that had afforded the only means of 
communication with the b.-ilance ol mankind, save long, tedious, overland 
journeys. This boat made its first trip down the river July 4, 1837. This 
same year another steamboat was built to navigate the upper river, between 
this city and Ionia, and as early as 1840 the energetic pioneers had begun 
upon the scheme of improving the navigation of the river; they proposed 
an important work, including a canal around the rapids of the river, and a 
portion of the present East Side water power is one of the legacies of that 
enterprise. As early as 1 837 the settlers had established a bank and several 
stores, as well as hotels and other nccessarv' requisites for a thriving frontier 
city in embryo. 

THE POPlL-VTIilN. 

Their town and the setllcments in the surrounding country grew apace. 
The precise population of the city in 1S40 cannot be staled. Kent County, 
according to the United States census, .-ilready contained 2.5S7 whites, a sur- 
prising growth in seven ytais; the population in 1837 was estimated at 
1,200. In 1845 the cily conl.tined 1,510 of the county's total of 6,049 
|x>pulation. During the following five years the population of the county 
nearly doubled--it was 12,016, and the city had 2,686 of these. These 
figures for the city grew steadily and rapidly, as may be seen from the fol- 
lowing statistics: In 1854 it was 4,278; 1860,8,090; 1864— during the war 
the city, which sent a very large nunlber of brave si)IJiers to the front, 
merely held its own — 8,772; 1870, 16,507; 1S74, 25,933; 18S0, 32,016; 
■884, 42,732. At this writing the city population un(|ui-sliunably exceeds 
70,000, for the ratio of growth since the State census of 1S84 has l>een 
greater than in any preceding four years since 1870-74. 

The foregoing figures tell their own tale; they reflect, in tangible form, 
the practical manifestations of the city's heredity — the spirit of its founders. 
There has been a steady and remarkably uniform growth, a growth that 
proves how well ordered and prosperous have been the business enterprises 
of the city; how finnly they arc founded; how broad and general are their 
ramifications, so that panics, periods of depression, local causes, do not 
affect them unfavorably to any appreciable extent. It will be seen that even 
through the rebellion decade, and the decade ol the great panic of 1873 and 
subsequent years, the population doubled each decaile. The present decade 
has not witnessed, as yet, anything approaching the depression ol those 
I>eriods, and thus far the growth, as has been said, has been even greater. 

The facts as to population should Iw mentioned in another as|>ect. Il 
is very largely composed ol native-bom |)eople. The United Slates census 
of both 1870 and 1880 showed that less than one-third of the city's total 
popuKition was foreign l)orn. While it is uni|uestionalily true that it has 
attracted a fair sh.-ire of the l>est immigration of the past eight years, as in 
former years, it is certain that the proportion of native- bom people resident 
here has increased. The general character of the people is well portrayed 
in the facts and statistics given in these pages, of their factories, their stores, 
their banks, their houses, their places of amusement, their educational, 
benevolent and religious institutions. These are all indices ol the history of 
the city for the past half century. Few other cities can show as rapid, as 
steady, as solid a progress during that h.nlf century. None has a belter 
impulntion, a more honorable career, or brighter prospects, as indicated by 
Its past. 



MANUFACTHREg 



The Greatest Factor in Building up and Making Renowned the City. 




RF.VIEW of the history of cities shows that those whicli 
vuiuain the greatest diversified business interests grow the 
most rapidly. The lives of New York and Charleston, 
S. C, began almost simultaneously. Koth had fine har- 
bore and great natural advantages for trade and com- 
merce when the sturdy Dutchman, the Celt and Anglo Saxon, settled on 
their beautiful bays. But when she had established banks, mercantile 
houses and exchanges for produce and commodities of various kinds; when 
her shipping interests were in a fair slate of developmonl; when her shippers 
in wooden walls ploughed the seas in search of goods for the home markets, 
New York gave her attention to manufactures and encouraged the founding 
of mills and factories for the production of articles of utility and convenience 
from the native materials which were found in abundance at her very 
doors. The city grew with wonderful rapidity under the inspiration of her 
business men, who not only extended their enterprise to every section of the 
globe, but fostered and developed her manufactures, which were to con- 
tribute so largely to the greatness of the city as a commercial center in the 
future. 

The people of Charleston confined their business enterprises to shipping 
and mercantile pursuits, paying no attention to manufactures, and in conse- 
quence they h.ive never made a showing in the extent of business carried on 
in any year, either antedating or since the war of the rebellion, which 
would make a respectable comparison with New York. 

New Orleans was an old and prosperous city long before the ground on 
which Chicago stands w;is purchased by the government. The former has 
no manufacturing enterprises worth mentioning and depends almost wholly 
on its trade in colt'.n and sugar for the support of its business houses. 
Chicago, filled with factories, is growing so rapiilly as to prove a perpetual 
surprise to people who give attention to the growth of cities. Other com- 
parisons might be given in this connection to subsLantiate the claim set up in 
the foregoing, that the cities which grow to greatness in the business world 
soonest are those which afford the people the widest variety of occupations 
(or their employment; but enough is shown the reader, who reflects for a 
moment on the condition of the manufacturing centers to-day, to convince 
him the point to which attention is directed is well sustained. 

A FACTORY CITY. 

The city of Grand Rapids is known far and wide for the number and 
character of its manufacturing establishments. Its three hundred and eighty- 
two factories produce goods which are sold in nearly every market of the 
worhl. 

11 KM n KK MAKINi:. 

lis furniture factoiics are unequaled in size by those of any other manu- 
facturing center of the world, and the goods produced in them are the best 
in style and quality that can be found in the marts of trade. So well is this 
fact understood that Grand Rapids furniture commands higher prices than 
similar goods made at other points, while the government of the United 
States, acknowledging the superiority of the work made by the artisans of 
-Michigan's chief manufacturing city, has entered into a contract with one of 
the leading corporations for providing all furniture that is required in the 
Suvcrnment buildings at all jwinls east of the Rocky Mountains. The most 



skillful designers, men virhose services command wages larger than the sala- 
ries paid to members of Congress, are employed, an<l the business of making 
furniture is pushed with skill, vigor and the most satisfactory results. 
Designs are changed frequently and the fields of mechanism, science and 
art are searched continuously lor points and suggestions which may be util- 
ized in the manufacture of goods. 

FACII.ITIKS l"OR QUICK WORK. 

No other city produces so many articles for furnishing the homes and 
business pl.aces ol the people of America, and il it were necessary to make 
a sufficient number of bedsteads lor the use of all the people of the world 
no city could fill the order so quickly as Grand Rapids. The amount ol 
capital employed by the furniture manufacturers is $3,728,000, and the value 
of the proiiuct during the year 1887 w.as $5,942,000. Four thousand five 
hundred and forty-nine men, one hundred and thirteen women and seventy- 
eight traveling salesmen, who solicit trade in Canada and .South America as 
well as in the United States, were employed. 

The business is almost entirely in the hands of Americans, whose 
activity, enterprise and liberality affoiils a marked contrast to the slow, 
easy going, though not less worthy Germans and Swedes who control the 
furniture manufacturing business at all other places where it is carried on to 
any considerable extent. The people of Michigan are indebted for the 
prominence and distinction which Grand Rapids enjoys as a furniture-manu- 
facturing center to these men. 

THE WORKMEN. 

The hands employed in the factories are mostly peaceable, industrious, 
thrifty, pious, home- loving Hollanders, opposed to strikes and with no 
capacity for mischief-making. Every attempt to organize them for the pur- 
pose of antagonizing the interests of their employers has failed. 



The rapid growth of this industry is readily shown by a comparison of 
the foregoing figures with the following, the local trade taking all goods 
manufactured previous to the year 1864: The value of the output for the 
year 1865 was $124,008; number of men employed, 175; amount of lumber 
used, 40,000 feet. Goods of the value of $1,150,000 were produced during 
the year 1877 by seven factories, with an aggregate working capital of 
$1,000,000, and employing 720 men. The furniture factories now use over 
50,000,000 feet of domestic lumber (a large share of which is sawed in mills 
connected with the factories) annu.ally, and also a very considerable quantity 
of mahogany .and other fine imported cabinet woods. 

HARriWOOn TIMIIFR. 

Among the many advantages which the manufacturers of Grand Rapids 
possess is an almost inexhaustible supply of hardwood timber, the amount 
of which now avail.able to their use is something no man can tell. Singular 
as it may appear there has been no estimate made by the land-lookers of the 
railroad companies, firms or private persons. It has been estimated that at 
the opening of the Michigan Central Railroad there was in the State, at a very 
low calculation, 200,000,000,000 feet of pine, » hile the hardwoods were more 
than two-thirds greater th.an this amount. There are thirty counties in the 
Stale which are directly tributary to Grand Rapids in the supply of hard- 



8 



THE CITY OF GRAND RHPIDS. 



wood timber, commencing al the Indiana Stale line and extending north to 
the Straits of Mackinac. These counties average sixteen towns to the 
county, and each town has thirty-six sections of 640 acres each, making a 
grand total of 12,000,000 acres in round numbers. Of this, over 8,000,000 
are of hardwood, suitable for use in the manufacture of lumiturc, agri- 
cultural implements, wagons, carriages and many other articles of domestic 
use. Of these 8,000,000 acres which arc covered with valuable timber, such 
as cherry, birch, oak, ash, maple, elm and basswooJ, one can make an ap- 
proximate estimate of the quantity of lumber that will be produced before the 
supply is exhausted, which is 614,400,000,000 feet, and experienced lumber- 
men declare that two-thirds of this vast quantity is suitable (or manufacture 
in the articles mentioned in the foregoing. These figures are simply won- 
derful. Then, if one stops to think that if the hardwood timber on the 
lands owned by the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad alone (350,000 
acres) and doubling the amount for each alternate section not owned by that 
corporation (in all 700,000 acres) were cut into four-foot wood, taking fifty 
cords from each acre, it would make a pile four feet high and 54,000 miles 
in length. To move this wood by rail would require 29,085,715 cars, or 
1,372,000.28 trains of twenty-two cars each, and would, if placed in a con- 
tinuous line, reach the enormous distance of 75,118 miles. All this lumber 
lies at the very doors of Grand Rapids, and one cannot estimate its value in 
dollars and cents; but it would seemingly require all the wealth of the whole 
country to move it al once or within thirty days. A prominent manufacturer 
recently declared that there is sufhcient hardwood lumber in the Lower 
Peninsula of Michigan to meet all demands for fifty years, and when that is 
gone OS much more will be available in the Upper Peninsula of the State. 
The manufacturers of Grand Rapids will never be without an ample supply 
of this material. 

FACILITIES FOR SHIPPINr:. 

The geographical situation of Grand Rapids is so central that its manu- 
facturers can ship to extreme points east, west, north and south with the 
greatest facility and at a minimum expense for freights. This statement is 
attested by the fact that thousands of buyers of manufactured goods from 
points on the Atlantic, the Pacific, the Northwest and the GiUf visit Grand 
Rapids annually to make purchases of slocks. 

Ll'MBER MANUFACTURERS. 

The thirty-seven firms and corporations engaged in the manufacture of 
lumber do not employ their combined capital of $3,861,000 entirely in 
Grand Rapids, but operate quite extensively at various points in Northern 
Michigan. The luml)er produced at their mills in the city, however, sold 
for $4,586,000, as will be seen in the tabulated statement following. 

IMIK)RTA.ST FACTORS. 

Among the largest factories, not specified above is one which produced 
carpel sweepers valued al $300,000, and the largest of its kind in the 
world; another, pianos worth $125,000, while twelve factories turned out 
barrels and kegs to the value of $510,000. 

MKTAI.-WORKING FACTORIES. 

Forty four factories which manuf.icture articles of the various metals 
employ an aggregate capital of $674,000, and 717 workmen. The value of 
their products for 1887 were $1,203,750. The largest of these industries — 
seventeen in number -employ 503 hands and turned out wood and iron 
working machines, engines and boilers valued al $706,000 last year. 

Grand Rapids presents a fine field for metal workers, and the Board of 
Trade desires to give its aid and encouragement to the founding of new 
establishments of like character. The field for business is an extensive one, 
and the advantages which the city possesses for manufacturing articles of 
mei.^l :" iiiiniiiniLn cost will be easily made apparent tu the investigator. 

MISCELLANEDl s MANUFACTURES. 

The number of firms, individuals and cori>oralions which carry on 
manufactures of a miscellaneous char.-icter is 171. Their capital com- 
bined is $4,286,800 and the value of the goods produced during the 



year 1887 was $8,921,050. They give employment to 2,455 persons, 447 
of whom were females. Six grist mills produced flour and feed valued at 
$1,360,000. They grind twenty car loads of grain per day. Hides were 
tanned and leather manufactured to the amount of $1,030,000. Two boot 
and shoe factories employed 109 men and 90 women during the year 1887, 
and the value of the footwear manufactured was $685,000. Other large 
interests are the plaster mills, the liclting factories, the brick and tile yards, j 
the manufacture of clothing, crackers, baking powders, spices and con- 
fections. 

Five plaster mills are located at or near the city, owned and operated by 
incorporated companies, which have an aggregation of capital to the 
amount of $750,000. The stucco and land plaster produced by these mills 
during 1887 sold for $200,000. 

The works of the Grand Rapids Barrel Company, in which a great 
variety of woodwork is produced, is the largest establishment of its kind in 
the world. 

A machine shop devoted to the manufacture of shingle-sawing machines 
is the largest factory of its class in the United States, and the same is true of 
an enormous establishment which is used in the production of tubs and pails. 

Four factories manufactured wall finishing compounds during 1S87 
valued at $250,000. The amount of capital employed in the business was 
$200,000, while the labor attending the manufacture and sale of the goods 
was performed by fifty-one men, twenty-seven women and fourteen 
traveling salesmen. 

ADDITIONAI. FACTORIES NEEDED. 

A careful investigation made by the Committee on Statistics of the 
Board of Trade revealed the tact that many new factories, if started in Grand 
Rapids, could do a profitable business. They found, among other things, 
that malleable iron castings to the amount of 2,033,491 pounds were used 
during the year 1887, all of which were obtained from abroad. This fact 
fully justifies their claim that a foundry for producing malleable iron castings 
is greatly needed in Grand Rapids. 

Three thousand four hundred and sixty five barrels of varnishes, valued 
at $60 per barrel, and thousands of barrels of wood stains and fillers were 
used by the manufacturers of pianos, furniture, carriages, refrigerators and 
other wares of wchxI during the year, every gallon of which was made out- 
side of the city. Over $200,000 was paid for varnishes alone. This fact 
amply supports the claim of the committee that a varnish factory could be 
established u ith an assurance of success in the city. 

The woodworking shops also consumed 2,653 barrels of glue, only a 
small part of which was made in Grand Rapids. The committee is of the 
opinion that another factory for the production of glue could be profitably 
located in this field. 

OPENINC.S FOR MEN OF BRAINS. 

There are openings in Grand Rapids for men with brains, energy and 
capital to engage, profitably, in the manufacture of the articles mentioned as 
follows: Varnishes, stains and fillers, casket and cabinet hardware, harness 
and upper leather, brass castings, railroad iron, Uiok, print, letter and wrap- 
ping papers, polished marble, lievelcd and rilvercd mirrors, stoves, ranges 
and furnaces, railroad and street cars, wire ami iron fencing, malleable iron 
castings, builders' hardware, cane and wood seat chairs, children's cribs, 
what-nots, parlor furniture frames, woolen cloths and yams, points, oils and 
dyes, glue and fertilizers, handles for brooms and agricultural tools, organs 
and sewing machines, road carts, hacks, additional tanneries (us hemlock 
hark is cheap and abundant in quantity), watches and jewelry, radiators and 
plumlicrs' fixtures, office safes, lead pi|)e and sheet lead, optical goods, 
smoking and fine cut tobaccos, lithographs, knit goods and hosiery, fluid 
extracts, and sjiecific medical preparations, furniture tops from marble and 
gypsum, photographers' materials, wire goods of all kinds, a (.ictory for dis- 
tilling dry saw dust for wood tar and crude acid — the latter producing wood 
alcohol, turpentine, creosote oil; one ton of sawdust will produce S12 worth 
of merchantable product. 




\VKST( )X r.1,1 » K -CANAL S TRKi:'!" 



Kl.NDAl.l, ni.iK'K MoNRMi; SIRKF.T. 




.::^;^v^4 



iri.l.r.K HLOl'K-CANAL AND liKIDGE STREliTS. 



IR 



pi'iiiiiiilllH^ 

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ll s « 




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W llil>l< 1 iMli II. k.M I I Kl t.ti. 




iijUKi'ii i\A I ii i.\Ai, i;aMv— I. AXAi. AM) i,vt iN siki;i:ts. 




Tilt: \VM. STEELE PACKING AND PROVISION CO.S WORKS AND CATTLE -YARDS. 




l;i;UKl.V a L.AV 1LKMI1.KL; Clj 




NliLSUN, MAI IKR & CU.S KL'kMILkK WAKlKi K)M>. 




HAWKINS lll.OCK. 




I.IIONAKI' lU 11, HIM. s I Mi'NKiiK SlKKKl; 2. I'Ul 1 1 >N AND sl'KiN(; SIS. 




BAkNiiAkT ni.ocK snnii IONIA ANP IdllS STRKKTS. 




i;i.iii)(,i;rr iiLotK ->tii i ii ioma >iki.i. 




lliirSKMAX I'.UILIMXC. LVON AND OTTAWA STRKKTS. 




THE LIVINGS l't).\—FUL ION AND SOUTH DIVISION STREETS. 




IIMNAkh r.l.iii K iilTAUA AM' Vl AlU -I KM 




UlliHK I >M1'. liLlLDlNi.Mi'NUdl, AM' UA IKKl.i >( i .sIKl-l.TS. 



THE CITY OF GRHND RflPIDS. 



ALPHABKTUAL LIST Ol" PRESENT FACTORIES. 



Q 



B < 



Animal Traps 

Asbestine Stone 

Asphaltum Stone 

Agricultural Implements .. 

Awnings and Tents 

Baking Powder, Spices, etc 

Blank Books 

Burial Caskets 

Brush 

Bent Wood 



Boat 

Brick and Tile 

Breweries 

Bottling (Soda, Pop, Beer, etc.) . 

Broom 

Belting 

Base Ball Bats 

Barrel and Keg 

Brass Founderies 

Bed Slat Fastener 

Boot and Shoe 

Boiler and Machinery 

Basket 

Coffee Extract 

C'nrtain Pole 

t^ar Shops 

Cracker 

Carriage and Wagon 

Cornice (metallic) 

Clothing 

Clothes Wringer 

Cider and Vinegar 

Cigar 

Carpet Weaving 

Carpet Sweeper 

Confectioneries 

Door Plates 

Electrotype 

Edge Tools 

Electric Motors 

Excelsior 

Embalming Fluid 

Engravers, etc 

Electric Light 

File 



Fishing Rod 

Flavoring Extracts 

Flour Mills 

Furniture Wood Trimmin):s 

Fire Grate 

Faucet..,^ 

Fly Paper 

Furniture Clamp 

Furniture 



Caimtal 

Em f LOVED. 



S 2.000 

8.000 

.">,liOO 

io.OOO 

4,000 

23,500 

20,000 

7M.0II0 

100.00(1 

xi.ooo 

3,300 

Kiri.ooo 

1110.000 

10.000 

.'i.SOO 

05,000 

20.000 

:i72,0OO 
8,000 
1,000 

350,000 

481,000 

2.000 

2,000 

28.000 

200,OK1 

145,000 

4S2,.500 
21,000 

100,000 
7,000 
!>,000 

205,000 

5,000 

liiO.OOO 

125.000 
1,000 

10,000 

11,000 

50,000 

.57.000 

20,000 

1.1,000 

250,000 

4,000 

10,000 

45,0110 

565,000 

150,000 

(io,oa) 

2,500 

2.000 

2.50U 

I.7a3.000 



Prodl'ct 






FOR 1887. 


J 




S 5,000 


3 




20,000 


12 




35.000 


15 




200,000 


28 




11.000 


5 




143.000 


22 




47.000 


52 




125,000 


66 




1 (XI. 01 10 


11.5 




iiO,0(;o 


34 




14,000 


11 




805,000 


167 




600,000 


180 




118,000 


32 




33.050 


34 




220,000 


44 




40.000 


30 




510,000 


286 




80.000 


28 




3.500 


4 




685.000 


193 




706.000 


503 




6.000 


U 




9.000 


6 




40.000 


41 




425,000 


325 




185.000 


45 




787.500 


425 




80.000 


36 




200.000 


138 




25.0C0 


15 




25.000 


9 




376.000 


136 




26.000 


36 




800,000 


211 


[ 


432.000 


175 




3.000 


3 




20.000 


S 




16.000 


17 




75,000 


7 




110,000 


58 




40,000 


7 




37,000 


28 




250,000 


35 




7,000 


8 




15,000 


IS 




145,000 


23 




1,360,000 


77 




110.000 


81 




17,5.000 


Si 




6.000 


3 




5.000 


6 
4 




5.000 




.941.000 


4.662 


3 



Glue 
Gas . 



Granite and Marble . 

Glove ', 

Hand Screw 

Harness 

Hat 



Hoop Skirt. 
Ink 



1 

37 
1 
2 

2 
8 
2 

ij 

1 1 
1 
1 

5 

3 

5 

1 

1 

1 

3 

S 

6 

2 

3 

3 

1 

1 

2 

1 

3 

5 

1 

4 

2 

1 

S 

1 

2 

1 

1 

4 

IS 



Knitting 

Ladder ... 

liUUiber and I'lanine 

Middling Purifier 

Mattresses 

Pickle 

Packing Boxes 

Paper Box 

Piano 

Portable House 

Portable Letter Press 

Patent Medicines 

Potteries 

IMaHter 31ills 



rump 

Pot Ash 

Refrigerator 

Shirt 

Stamp Stencil 

Sash, DfX)rs and Bliirds. 
Show Cases 



Saw 

Soap 

Spoon Hook 

Tub and Pail. ,. 

Trunk '. 

Truss 



380 



Tanneries 

Upholstering 

Veneer 

Wall Coating Compound 

Well and Cistern Brick 

Wire Nail 

Willow and Rattan Ware 

Wire Works 

Wooden Shoe 

Wheelbarrow 

Wood .Mantle 

Wood Bank and Store Furniture . 

Woodenware ^all kinds) 

Wood Carving 

Washing Machine. 



Capital 
Emploveu. 



S 25.000 

250.000 

40.000 

1.000 

2.000 

26.000 

1.000 

2.000 

1,000 

15,000 

600 

.H.Kti 1.000 

25,000 
17.000 

T.r,. in 
li'.I.OOll 

7.000 
85.000 

5.000 
IS.tXXl 
16.01(1 

6.(1(10 

750.000 

25.000 

2.000 
7.5.000 

7.(;(iO 

().U(«( 

145.000 

1,50(1 

l(l.(Hl(l 

:i5.fKKJ 

5.(ni(i 

250.0(10 

13,500 

2,000 

415,000 

49,000 

80,000 



Product 
FOR 1887. 



$25,000 

180.000 

110,000 

2,500 

8.000 
78.000 

5,000 
10.000 

2.500 
2.5.000 

2.000 
4..'J8e.000 ! 
50,0(J0 ' 

I 
75.000 1 

21.000 

113.000 ! 

15.000 
I 
125.000 ' 

20.000 

15.000 j 

31.000 

IH.IKIO 

200.000 

6.500 

8.000 

100,000 
41,000 
26,000 . 

21.5.000 
I7..i00 I 
21.000 
1)3,000 
15,000 

.vio.ooo 
4n..5oo 
5,000 

1,030,C(I« 
161.000 
35.000 



10 
30 
4S 

6 

8 
39 

4 
11 

4 



681 
23 
36 
10 
60 
38 
101 

9 

8 

19 

14 

127 

4 

4 
81 
36 

7 
91 
16 
2S 
17 

6 

263 

19 

5 

316 

54 

:o 



200.000 


2M.00O 


78 


2.000 


'i.:m 


9 


4.50(1 


8.2.50 


5 


y.."i(io 


80,000 


34 


3.000 


8.000 


S 


1..500 


4.000 


5 


17.000 


2.5.000 


79 


2.000 


4..500 


4 


11,000 


75.000 


."« 


20.000 


.W.OOO 


40 


2.000 


5.000 


5 


3.000 


5.000 


6 


:15.216.400 


S24,O4R.800 


11.110 



THE JIDBBINS TRA©E. 



R Brief History of its Growtli iq Grand Rapids— the MarKet of Western Michigan. 




IHE history of the jobbing trade of Grand Rapids is a recital 
of humble beginnings; of gradual growth ill diversity, vol- 
ume and territory; of enterprise which has kept pace with 
the advance of an undeveloped region; of aggressiveness 
which has encroached on the boundaries of other markets, 
compelling a readjustment of old limits; of a breadth and scope which has 
accorded the market the admiration of the commercial world. 
THE PIONEER JOBBERS. 

The earliest record of any jobbing transactions in this city dates baclv to 
1847, when the late Hon. Wilder D. Foster is known to have sold consid- 
erable quantities of goods in bulk, to be disposed of in a retail way by the 
buyers. From that time until 1S64, when the jobbing trade of the place 
may be properly said to have begun, sever.al houses carried on a small 
jobbing trade in connection with their retail business; but no regular sales- 
men were sent out by these houses, and no special claims were put forth in 
tlieir behalf. 

To Hon. L. H. Rand.m.i. clearly belongs the honor of inaugurating the 
jobbing trade of this market. When he and Seth Hoi.comb engaged in 
the grocery business, in 1857, they advertised to do both a wholesale 
and retail trade; but it was not until 1864 (two years alter Mr. Rand.vll had 
purchased the interest of his partner) that the retail business was discon- 
tinued, and an exclusively wholesale trade begun. A year later, Wm. B. 
Remington came into the field with a wholesale notion business; and in 
1S66 the jobbing trade of the town received an accession in the shape of the 
boot and shoe house of Whitley, Rindge & Co. From this time on, the 
growth and development of the jobbing trade was rapid, new houses coming 
into the field every year, while comparatively few retired. 

The system of selling goods by sample, while not so common as at 
present, seemed to be equally essential to the success of a jobbing business 
a quarter of a century ago. 

The difference between selling goods on the road now and in the dawn 
of the jobbing trade here furnishes a marked contrast. The only railroad 
which touched Grand Rapids at that time was the old '• D. & M.," so that 
nine tenths of the goods sold from the city were placed along the line of long 
drives in nearly every direction from the place. Tn addition to the comple- 
ment of sample cases, no salesman thought of starting out on a trip of any 
length without an axe and a rifle — the former to provide against obstructions 
in the shape of fallen trees and the latter for use in case a wolf or bear 
attempted to be too familiar. The goods were sold by sample, but instead 
of being started on their way to the merchant as soon as the order reached 
the house, they were held until the purchaser sent in his team for them, not 
infrequently a period of two or three weeks. The fartherest point to which 
Grand Rapids had access was Hersey, then a place of considerable impor- 
tance as the depot of extensive lumbering operations. Traverse City was 
known as a town of some size, but was too far away to have any attractions 
for the Grand Rapids jobbers. Working south of this market the farthest 
]ioint touched was Singapore, now a deserted, sand-covered village a couple 
of miles from Saugatuck. 

THE JOBBERS OF THE PRESENT. 

Such being the beginning, what has been the harvest? A remarkable 
increase in the branches originally represented and the "addition of 



other and cognate blanches until the jobbing transactions of the market 
amount to millions where they then amounted to thousands. In no branch 
of business is this more thoroughly illustrated than in the gi'ocery trade, 
which is represented by seven strong houses, all vieing with each other for 
supremacy, and whose total sales eclipse those of the wholesale grocery trade 
of either Toledo or Detroit. That so young a market as Grand Rapids is 
able to make such a showing is the best possible tribute which can be paid 
to the sagacity and enterprise of those responsible for it. Nor is this spirit 
wholly confined to the representatives of the wholesale grocery trade. It is 
equally noticeable in other lines, contributing, in no small degree, to the 
wonderful strides the market has made as a jobbing center. 

JOBBING HOUSES. 



Boots. Shoes and Rubbers 

Hooks and Stationery 

Bronze Monuments 

Clothing 

Commission and Produce. 

Crockery 

Dry Goods (wholesale and retail) . 

I'rugs 

Grocers 

Hardware 

Hides, Pelts and Wool 

Hats, Caps and Furs 

Lime and Cement 

Liquor 

Notions , 

Packers 

Paper 

Paints, Oils, etc 

Photographic Supplies 

Rags and Peddlers Supplies 

Saddlery Hardware, etc 

Spices, etc 

Yeast 



Capital 
Employed. 



S200,000 

lliO.UOO 



75.000 
118.0UO 
165,000 
585,000 
165.000 
675,000 
300,000 
50,000 
25,000 
25.000 
150,000 
35,000 
73,000 
112,000 
50,000 
10,000 
10,000 

100,000 

25,000 
3.1100 



Total ' $3,051,000 



Product 

FOR 1887. 

S325.000 
300,000 

aooo 

135,000 
1. 000.000 

345,000 
1,400,000 

300,000 
4.400.000 

008,000 

800,000 
60,000 

150,000 

500,000 

iso.ofo 

375,000 

350,000 

150.0C0 

22,500 

.50.000 

350.000 

200.0(0 

10.000 



S12,289,500 



Employes. 


Hale 


Female 


46 




33 


6 


2 




102 


63 


127 


39 


30 


19 


140 


150 


20 


2 


96 


6 


105 




16 




4 


5 


16 




27 




6 




35 




21 


1 


24 




2 




8 


11 


21 


2 


IS 


2 


5 


3 


878 


309 



171 



29.060 



Number of barrels illuminating oil inspected at Grand Rapids during 1887 .. 

TERRITORY COVERED. 

Coincident with the advent of new houses, and the constant enlarge- 
ment of those already in the field, has come a gradual increase in the terri- 
tory covered, partially by encroachments on limits established by other mar- 
kets, but principally by the development of unsettled sections. Beginning 
with a territory 100 miles long by half as wide, the jobbing trade of the place 






THE CITY OF GRAND RHPIDS. 



11 



now practically controls the western half of the State, between the Straits of 
Mackinac and the Indiana line. Much trade is secured in the Upper Penin- 
sula and throughout Northern Indiana, but both fields are as yet disputc<l 

i^iounil. 

Till". NUMBER OF JOBBING HOUSES. 

No better index of the remarkable growth of the jobbing trade is offered 

than the fact that the three original jobbing houses have increased to seventy, 

and that the half-dozen traveling salesmen have been augmented to a band 

of over 400. 

NEW LINES NEEDED. 

While the jobbing trade comprises an exceptionally substantial and 
diversihed class of houses, there are still some lines in which the market is 
deficient, which could be added to the advantage of those already in the 
field, as well as to the profit of their projectors. In no respect is this more 
true than in the inauguration of an exclusive dry goods establishment, which 
is needed more than any other enterprise which can be named. To a less 
extent the same is true of a clothing house, a hat and cap house, a glove 
house, another boot and shoe factory, a butter and cheese house, a tobacco 
factory, a cannery for native fruits and vegetables, a vinegar and pickle 

' factory, an extensive soap factory, a woodenware house, to handle the entire 
products of the numerous factories in the hardwood districts. The open- 
ings in the lines above outlined are such as should command the attention of 

, capitalists or men of experience seeking new fields of operation. The job- 
'■•ng trade, without an exception, always gives newcomers a hearty welcome 
1 extends the hand of fellowship at every opportunity. 



The value of goods imported by the merchants and manufacturers of 
' Grand Rapids during the year 1SS7 w.is $4,778,500. 

In conclusion, it is hardly necessary to say that the future of Grand 
Rapids, as a jobbing center, is assured. Sufficient proof of this statement is 



found in the fact that Chicago and other cities are beginning to re.ilize that 

if they expect to do any business in Western Michigan they must come to 

the headquarters of Western Michigan — which is only another name for 

Grand Rapids. 

RKTAII. TRADE. 

The extent of the retail trade of the cily is indicated l)y the following 
enumeration of retail houses: 

Agricultural implements, 5; bakeries and confections, 30; bird dealer, i : 
books and stationery, lo; boots and shoes, 28; cigars and tobacco, 23; 
clothing, 12; coal and wood, 9; creameries, 4; crockery, 15: dry goods, 38; 
druggists, 45; fancy goods and toys, 5; flour and feed, 36; furniture, new, 
19; furniture, secondhand, 6; general stocks, 3; gents furnishing goods, 2; 
grocers, 221; hair good.s, 7; hardware, 39; harness, 15; hats, 3; house furn- 
ishing goods, 9; hygenic goods, 2; laundries (steam), 4; livery stables, 16; 
mill supplies, 7; millinery and fancy goods, 18; music, 3; news depots, 11: 
oil stores, 7; oyster and fish stores, 2; plumbing and gas fitting, 7; printing 
(job and book), 26; restaurants, 13; seed stores, 4; sewing machine 
agencies, 7; sporting goods, 4; umbrella and cane, i; wall paper, picture 
frames, etc., 13; wood yards, 17. 

AGENTS, CONTRACTORS, TRADES, PROFESSIONS, ETC. 

Architects, 3; building movers, 2, dentists, 29; blacksmiths, 7; brokers, 
9; building contractors, 42; barber shops, 51; boot and shoe shops, ^C>; 
butchers, 82; carpet cleaning shops, 3; electrical supply houses, 4; florists 
and nurserymen, 13; undertakers, 5; gold and silver platers, 2; gunsmiths, 
2; hack and baggage lines, 2; horse-shoeing shops, 14; insurance agents, 31 : 
intelligence offices, 4; lapidairian, i; locksmiths, 2; attorneys at law, 94; 
manicure, i; manufacturers agents, 3; merchant tailoi-s, 19; millwrights, 3; 
oculists and aurists, 3; photographers, 15; physicians, 143; real estate deal- 
ers, 56; stair builders, 2; steamship agencies, 5; stenographers, 3; taxider- 
mists, 3; veterinary surgeons, 8; renovators (clothes), 7; bath (Turkish), i; 
junk dealers, 5; pawn brokers, 4; agents for office safes, 2. 



-®®®®- 



gank§ and ganking. 



Grand Rapids as a Financial Ceqter — Clearing House Statistics. 




RAND RAPIDS can point with a great deal of pride to her 
banking institulions. They consist of five National and two 
Savings Banks, all well managed and doing a very prosper- 
ous business. Grand Rapids is considered the financial and 
banking center for Northern and Western Michigan. .The 
rales of discount are very low, comparing favorably with much larger cities 
and monetary centers. 

The enormous increase in the banking business of the city already indi- 
cates the steadily increasing wealth of the people. In the spring of 1861, 
the city had no b.inking facilities whatever, and it was not until 1863 that 
there was an org.inized bank, and that with a capital of but $50,000. 
THE I'AST AND PRESENT. 
A comparison with the present banking capital and surplus of $2,854,- 
000; deposits, $5,750,000, and a line of discounts amounting to $7,036,000, 
tells the story of permanent growth and strength, and needs no comment. 
SAVI.SGS BANKS. 
Tlic savings l)anks report that their deposits increased very materially 
during the winter months of 1887 and iSSS, which goes to show that the 
hilraring classes were well employed, and that they are industrious and 

saving. 

THE CLEARING HOUSE. 

The Grand Rapids (.'Icaring House Association was organized Decem- 
ber ;o, 1885. 



The reports are very encouraging, and show business is increasing 

rapidly, the second year of its operation showing an increase of 31 per cent. 

over the first. 

STOCK INSURANCE. 

A prosperous stock insurance company, organized in 1SS2, with a cash 

capital of $100,000, increased the same to $200,000 in 1SS6, and has had a 

continuous record of prosperity. 

Its assets January I, 1883. were $100,359; 'S**-*' *'°9'79j: 'S85, 
$115,670; 1886, $126,257; 1887, $239,501; 18S8, $275,595. 
SAFETY DEPOSIT COMPANIES. 

.\mple facilities for the storage of papers and valuables are furnished by 
t«o safe deposit companies, one conducted by a stock company, with 
$50,000, and the other a private enterprise. Each is equipped with all the 
modern safeguards against burglars and fire. 

BITI.DINO AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS. 

At present, there are in operation in Grand Rapids five building and 
loan associations, each having a large membership and enjoying prosperity. 

Ihe associations, in the order of organization and their capital stock, 
are as follows: CArn-Ai. 

The Gr.ind Rapids S 12."i.C«0 

The V:,llcy Ciiy 2.au00u 

The \Vc5t Side i'ltHIUO 

Grand Kapids Miltil.-il .'i.nUO.OUO 

The Holland . 500,000 



REAL ESTATE. 



The Present and Prospective Value of Property— Pointers as to Safe Investrrients. 







(HOSE who aie in search of homes, business locations, factory 
sites or of safe and prolitable investment, should visit Grand 
l-iapids and inspect the superior advantages this city pos- 
sesses in any and all of these particulars. Prices are low, 
terms are reasonable, values are steadily advancing, and the 
nieehaiiic, the merchant, the manufacturer, and the capitalist — the man with 
limited means and he who has an abundance — each can find in this city 
what they desire. 

The city includes about eight square miles of hill and valley, and the 
immediate suburl)S on every side are rapidly becoming thickly populated. 
The streets are substantially paved or graveled. The water system for fire 
protection or for use covers nearly Ihe entire corporation; gas mains and 
electric light wires extend in all the principal business and resident thorough- 
fares and avenues, and the street-car lines penetrate every section of the city. 

RESIDENCE PROPERTY. 

Residence property is especially cheap and available. Building lots of 
standard width and depth can be purchased, ranging in price anywhere from 
S250 to ten times that amount, and the price payable in any manner desired: 
for cash, in weekly, monthly, or in quarterly installments. 

For the lowest sum named a lot can be secured within the corporate 
limits, a few blocks, at the most, from the cars and in a section of the city 
that will quickly improve and develop. A very desirable lot can be pur- 
chased for from S600 to SSoo on a graded street, near pr on a street railroad, 
and in a good neighborhood, while for $1,000 to $I,2CX3 a lot can be bought 
which will have included sewers, water, gas, sidewalks and other improve- 
ments, and be within easy walking distance of business. The choicest resi- 
dence property can be had at prices ranging from $1,500 or $1,800 to 
$2,500. 

Those who would prefer to buy houses already built can find what they 
want from $1,000 upwaj-d, payable, a nominal sum to bind the bargain, from 
$150 to $500, and the balance in easy installments. 

From $1,000 to $1,500 will buy a cosy little home in the outskirts, 
easily reached by street car; $2,000 to $4,000 will buy a neat and commodi- 
ous residence finely situated in regard to schools, business and accessibility; 
$5,000 to $8,000 will buy something handsome; from $10,000 to $15,000 or 
$20,000 a mansion with all the modern improvements, and a palace for 
$25,000 to $35,000 and upward. 

At prevailing prices for material and labor, a cottage with five rooms, 
suitable for a small family, can be erected for $Soo. An attractive house of 
six or seven rooms can be constructed for from $1,200 to $1,500. A fine 
Queen Ann house, with good interior finisli and many modern improve- 
ments, can be built for from $2,000 to $5, coo. A brick residence, elegantly 
finished, will cost anywhere from ^8,000 upward. 

For renting purposes houses can be secured for from $8 to $50 per 
month, according to location, size and style. A very desirable house can be 
rented for froni $15 to $20 per month, conveniently situated and abundantly 
large for the ordinary family. 

BLSINESS PROPERTY. 

Transfers of the best business property have been so few within the past 
vear that it is difficult to form an estimate of values. The last Monroe-street 



property which changed hands commanded about $500 a front foot. On the 
side streets, immediately off the main thoroughfare, and in the center of the 
business portion of the city, recent transfers have been made at from S120 to 
$250 per foot frontage. The choicest parcels now on the market are quoted 
at from $300 to $350, and very desirable pieces, in locations that are bound 
to be valuable for business purposes, can be had at $100 or even less. 
Splendid business sites can be found away from the immediate trade circles, 
suitable for stores where families can get their household supplies, at very 
low figures — from $600 to $1,200 per lot of standard width, on the corner i( 
preferred, and in the centers of large, rapidly growing and prosperous neigh- 
borhoods. 

STORE RENTALS. 

Single store rentals, including basement, range from $700 to $2,000 in 
the best localities and from $400 to $900 in very desirable places. Double 
stores and larger accommodations can be secured a very reasonable rates. 

OFFICES. 

For office purposes a suite of four to six large front rooms, steam heated, 

with brick vaults for storage of papers and books, and elevators, can be had 

for from $500 to $700. Single rooms rent for from $50 to $250 a year. 

FACTORY SITES. 

Factory property can be purchased within the city limits and within call 
of the fire department, in case of danger, and on the line of two or more rail- 
roads, for $Soo to $1,500 an acre, and in the outskirts and just outside of the 
city at considerably less. These sites are easy of access by graded and 
graveled streets, and side tracks can be built from the railioads to any part 
of the premises, thus furnishing the best possible facilities for handling 
freight. 

Sites along the river and the canals are held high, but not unreasonably 
so — from $2,000 to $7,000 will buy the best that are offered. 

Factory room and power can be rented at .almost any price desired. 
COST OF MATERIAL AND LABOR. 

On the fii"st of March prevailing prices for labor and building material 
were as follows: Masons and bricklayei^, 45 cents an hour; carpenters 
and other artisans, $2 to $2. 50 a day; laborers, $1 to $1.50 a day. 

Connnon brick, S4.50 to S5 per 1,000; fire brick, S28 per 1,000; foun- 
dation stone, $5.50 to S6.50 per cord; Petoskey lime. Si; Marblehead and 
Ohio lime, 90 cents; Akron cement, $1.20 per barrel in sacks; Louisville 
cement. Si. 10; stucco, 40 cents per sack; plastering hair, 30 cents per 
bushel; mill cull boards, $8 per M; shipping cidls, sheathing or roof boards, 
S13; stock boards. No. i, $18; No. 2, S16; timber, joist and scantling, 12 
to 16 feet, hemlock, Sio; pine, $13; pine flooring, dressed and matched, 
$13 to $20; bevel siding, S12 to SiS; ceiling pine, $12 to $25; Norway, $25; 
finishing lumber, pine, $20 to $35 for '/s inch, an< $40 to S50 for i 's and 2 
inch; lath, $2. 50 per M; shingles at S3. 25 for 16-inch stars, $2. 25 for 
seconds. 

Other materials, nails, paints, oils, varnishes and fixtures can be bought 
here as cheaply as in Detroit or Chicago. 

ADVANTAGES PRESENTED FOR INVESTMENT. 

There is not a city in the country where real estate investment can be 
made that will be so, safe and so surely profitable as in Grand R.ipids. The 




RESIDENCE MAIOR AMASA B. WATSON— FULTON AND SHELDON STREETS. 




KKS1DENV1-; HON. TIIOS. D. t.ILI'.KKT LAKAVl.lTE STREET. 




KKSIDKNCl-; IIAKKV WIDI >1(:().\IB-EAST rLll'iN .\M> TKi )>l'l ( T STRKKT- 




KKSIHKNlK MKS. 1 1 Xll'iaUl ii'lll(.l WlMl \\Ii il!lKK\ ^IKKKI 




RKSIDKXCK CAR'S W. PKKKIXS FOUNTAIN AND I.AFAYKTTE STRKKTS. 




KlCslDlMl, Jii-llMl II. \Vi iNDI.KI.V 575 LlIKRKV MUFKr. 




RESIDENCE EDWIN V. UHL— 211 FOUNTAIN STREET. 




KKSIDEXCE MRS, SARAH A. MoRRlS lHKRKV SIKEET AND (, OLLEGE AVENUE. 




residp:nce d. a. blodgett— 276 ciikrry street. 




RESILIENCE W. R. SHELBY. L.\FAVETTE ST. 




Rh.slDhNCk. I, ho. W. (,.VV— j5u I.A.ST KULTON STREET. 




RESIDENCE COL. E. CROKTt)N KO.\ AXL) CHAS. FO.\, ClIERRV AXU COLLEGE AVENUE. 



o „ 

to 

I 



^ 

?< 



i^. 



Z ^ 










IIL \1UK1U\. 




THE DERBY HOTEL. 



THE CITY OF GRHND RHPIDS. 



13 



prices, to-day, for all kinds of property, business, residence and factory, in 
the center of tlie city and in the suburbs, are very low, compared with other 
cities, and the prices are steadily advancing. There is no boom or fictitious 
enhancement of value, but it is a healthy, vigorous growth, permanent, sub- 
stantial and fully warranted by the circumstances. On an average, all over 
the city, the prices to day are ten per cent, higher than a year ago, while in 



some sections the increase has been 30, 40 and even 50 per cent. As the 
city increases in population, as new street car lines are built and new manu- 
facturing institutions are established, the demand for property will grow 
stronger and prices will continue to go up, realizing a handsome profit to 
those who have their money invested in real estate. The demand for houses 
to rent is heavier than the supply, and from 10 to 12 percent, interest on 
investments of this kind can readily be realized. 



-=®=- 



Hotels. 




TIE hotels of Grand Rapids have assisted not a little in 
spreading the name and fame of the city. In number, size, 
appearance and general appointments they will compare 
fa\ orably with cities twice as large in population. By rea- 
son of the excellent character of her hotels Grand Rapids 
has become the recognized "convention city of Michigan," and thus she is 
frequently styled. The first-class houses are up with the age in everything 
that goes to make up the model caravansary. They are supplied with 
passenger elevators, heated by steam throughout, supplied with electrical 
bells, both call and fire, and every modern convenience. The Morton has 
accommodations for 350 guests; Sweet's, 400; Eagle, 250; Clarendon, 200; 



Bridge Street, 200, and The Derby, 250. These houses are all first-class, 
and it will thus be seen their accommodEtions are for 1,650 people. Of 
the second-class hotels the Michigan House has accommodations for 200 
guests; the European, 100; New Rathbun, 150; Union Depot, 50, and thirty 
four others 700, making a total of i ,299. There are also a large number of 
first and second-class family hotels, and of the first mentioned the Vendome 
can care for 100 regular patrons; the Warwick, 100; the Livingstone, 325; 
Brunswick, 125; Irving, icx), and Park Place, 100. The city has estab- 
lished a national reputation for caring for great conventions and great 
crowds, and the traveling men skip many towns, that they may spend theii 
Sundays at one of the city's fine public houses. 



-®®®®- 



Vital gtati^tic^. 

Tl)e Conditioris -Wl:\icl^ Places Grand Rapids so Higl^ in tt^e List of Cities, as Sl\o\s;n by Mortality Reports. 

Htn\osp]-ieric Coriditioris. 



I MO\G the many natur.al advantages this city and surrounding 
country has, there are none which strike the intelligent 
investigator with more force than the peculiarity of its 
topography and climate. The surface of the country is 
rolling, sloping towards channels which lead all flood- 
waters quickly away to the river which rapidly flows through the heart of this 
city, thus providing for its complete and thorough drainage. The elevation 
of nearly all of the resident properly of the city secures an .ample supply of 
pure air. 

TEMPERATURE. 

The temperature of this region will compare favorably with any part of 
this or any other coun'ry. We quote from records published by the Slate 
Board of Health of Michigan. The average temperature (or twenty years, 
from 1864, by months is: 

r 



FOK \ 



Jan. 


1KB. 


Mar.' 


April 


May 


JlVK 

(•.7 83 


J.-..V 


Aug. 


Seit. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


22.43 


24.58 


31.G1 


45.71 


58.27 


71.6.'! 


69.1.1 60.16 


48.33 


35.30 


25.50 



The average temperature for the 20 years is 46.68'^'. 

The liiLdicsi temperature for 12 years, from 1S73 lo 1884, was loi*^ 
August II, 1SS4; and the lowest 31'^ below zero, February 8, 1875. 

VVl.M) A.NI> STORM.S. 

Alllioui^h llio cily is not situated immediately upon the abrupt and ele- 
vated shores of Lake Michigan, yet this large body of water has a very 
marked influence, not only in modifying the teiiipcralurL\ but also as regards 
t'.ic forte- of tlie winds. Storms are, for the most part, broken up and their 



force destroyed by the waters of the lake. The oldest inhabitant cannof 
remember any wind storm that ever did any serious d.amage in this city. 

RAIXFALI.. 
Grand Rapids is remarkably favored by nature in regard to rainfall as 
compared with the most favored localities. Statistics show that droughts 
and excess are exceptional, and that the average rainfall for twenty years 
is about thirty- two inches, and that the deep-snow line in this part of the 
State is about one degree of latitude north of the city. 

HEALTH. 

Grand Rapids is naturally favored in the fact that the seasons of heat 
and cold are not long enough to give any disease that is most likely to pre- 
vail in those seasons a chance before there is a change which usually checks 
them, either by frost or warmth. 

Conclusive proof of the natural advantages that this locality has in 
relation to health can be found in the latest statistics of the mortality of the 
leading cities of the country for the p.ast year, .as furnished to tlie world by 
the Boards of Health of those cities. 

In this city the average for the past five years was 9.24 per 1,000, being 
lower than cities of those localities whose climates are celebrated the world 
over .IS health resorts, Colorado and California. 

By a careful inspection of causes of death it is found there is no excess 
of deaths from causes that can properly be charged to this climate or can be 
claimed to be natural to the country. The principal diseases are hereditary, 
imported by the influx of population, or caused by excesses in their various 
forms. There is no region of the country where there are more natural ad- 
vantages in all respects in regaril to liealth and length of life, and nothing 
short of negligence or excesses, unless they are already broken down bcfure 
they .arrive, will prevent immigrants from enjoying the lull ti;-.ic: alloted ii-.aa. 



RAILRCDA© FACILITIES. 



Tine Valley City tlie Greatest Railroad Center iq the State— The Roads Centering 

Here and the Points Reached by Thern- 




\XD RAPIDS is pre-eminently the railroad center of Mich- 
iijan; no other city has so many actual avenues of entrance 
l>y rail now, or the prospect of so large and important 
additions to its present rail facilities in the near future. 
Tliere are now ten actual arteries ot entrance or travel 
completed, another will be finished before midsummer of iS88, while two 
others are projected by organized companies with fair prospects of ultimate 
realization, and the year iSSS will almost certainly see such extensions of 
two of the existing systeins as will make of them, in practical effect, two 
more routes into popiilous, thriving, and hence important territory. These 
railroad facilities, as may be seen from even a hasty glance at the railroad 
map on the back cover, place our manufacturers and merchants in communi- 
cation with all the rest of the world, under exceedingly favorable circum- 
stances. No other inland city offers superior advantages for freights, while the 
volume of traffic, rapidly growing, in and out of the city, secures for ship- 
pers not only excellent and improving rates, but superior attention and 
service. Railro.id officials feel that the business of the city is richly worth 
striving for, worth cultivating and retaining if possible. 
THE FIRST RAILROAD. 

The first railroad to enter the city, in point of time, was what is now 
known as the Detroit, Grand Haven and Milwaukee, one of the most important 
links in the Grand Trunk system in the United States and Canada, on the 
great route from Milwaukee to the seaboard. It offers four passenger trains 
each way, daily, and the number of freights is only limited by its business. 
THE GRAND RAPIDS AND INDIAN.\ RAILROAD. 

The next in point of seniority, and the most important in its influence 
on the business of the city, the character and relation of its traffic to the 
city, is the Grand Rapids and Indiana, which has its headquarters, general 
offices and chief shops in Grand Rapids, was originated here, and is vitally 
interested in the well-being and growth of the city. This road is one of the 
most important north and south lines in the country. Built north from here 
twenty miles as early as the winter of 1866, and a completed through line 
from Richmond, Indiana, to the Straits of Mackinaw, 460 miles, in 1880, it 
handles a vast and growing business, and is of the first importance to the 
jobbing trade as well as the manufacturers of the city. The line has, at 
the present, through car service to Cincinnati over the Cincinnati, Hamil- 
ton and Dayton, from Richmond, Indiana, almost as favorable as over 
its own tracks; but, in connection with other roads of the great Pennsylvania 
Railroad system, of which it is a recognized and important link, it will 
doubtless build its own line into that gateway of the South, Cincinnati. 

This road has been the chief factor in the development of Northern 
Michigan. It has promoted the building of important commercial and in- 
dustrial centers where but twenty years ago was a wilderness unbroken 
save by the lumberman's axe, and those towns with their rural population 
have vital interest in and dependence upon Grand Rapids. This company 
at the Straits of Mackinac has direct connection with the Duluth, South 
Shore and Atlantic system, both to St. Paul and Minneapolis and the great 
Northwest, and to the Sault and the Canadian Pacific and other systems in 
Omaha. Ii's Northern connections are thus almost as important as its 



Southern; and it crosses between Grand Rapids and its southern terminus 
pretty much every great east and west trunk line in the United States, and 
gives the resulting advantages. From and north of Grand Rapids it has 
built many branches from eight to forty miles long, feeders which greatly 
increase its facilities and the commerce of Grand Rapids. This road enters 
the timber land, decidious and hardwood, north of the city, and is one of the 
chief routes for that supply. The most important of its present feeders is 
the one to Muskegon, forty miles, where it reaches Lake Michigan and the 
traffic of that port. Another branch, twenty-six miles in length, reaches 
Traverse City. It is contemplated to build still another to Manistee in 1888, 
to reach another of the most important of La:ke Michigan's ports. 

SUMMER RESORTS. 

Through the able management of this road, the great value of Northern 
Michigan as a summer resort region, as a paradise for hunters and fishermen, 
has become known throughout North America. This interest, already vast, 
is rapidly growing, and contributes in a marked degree to the volume of busi- 
ness of Grand Rapids. 

PERMANENT INVESTMENTS. 

The Grand Rapids and Indiana Company has its construction and repair 
shops in Grand Rapids, within the corporate limits. These now employ 
about 500 mechanics, and use a large amount of material. In the near 
future they will probably make all the rolling stock of the company, and will 
grow to three or four times their present size and importance. This com- 
pany owns what is known as the Union Depot in Grand Rapids, which is 
used by all its own trains, and also now by trains on the various divisions of 
the Chicago and West Michigan, the Michigan Central, and the Detroit, 
Lansing and Northern. It is probable that in the near future the passenger 
trains on the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern and the Detroit, Grand 
Haven and Milwaukee roads will also use this depot. 

There are now forty-five passenger trains in and out of this depot every 
twenty-four hours, and the coming twelve months will probably see this 
increased to between sixty and seventy. The company is preparing plans 
for a first-class passenger station to be completed in 1888. To make it con- 
sistent with the city and its business, it is proposed to spend between $250,- 
000 and $300,000 on the structure and track facilities. 

THE LAKE SHORE .\ND MICHIGAN SOUTHERN RAILROAD. 

Next in point of time of construction is the Kalamazoo Division of the 

Lake Shore and Michigan Southern system. This division is ninety-four 

miles long, south from Grand Rapids, and at its southern terminus. White 

Pigeon, connects with the main line of that system. So it, too, furnishes 

competition as well as facilities for both Eastern and Western business. It is 

now running four passenger trains daily, two each way, with through car 

facilities. 

THE CHICAGO AND WEST MICHIGAN RAILROAD. 

Next in order of time is what is now known as the Chicago and West 
Michigan system, which is second on the list in the importance of iis con- 
nections and business relations to Grand Rapids. Two of its chief divisions 
terminate here, and a part of its general offices, including the general 
freight and passenger offices, are located here. 



THE CITY OF GRHND RfiPIDS. 15 

The most important of its divisions, ending here, is the main line, from The following are the aggregate figures of the business done by the five 

Grand Rapids to LaCrosse, Ind., 153 miles in length. Reaching that city it railroads and one steamship line centering in the city during the year 1887: 

crosses all the great east and west lines of the country north of the Ohio „ . , , 

r reight forwarded, tons 397, UGl 

River, with the resultant advantages. At New Buffalo, iii; miles from c- ■ u. • j . 

' == ' -^ Freight received, tons 58.'). 624 

(irand Rapids, the road makes direct connection with the Michigan Central, Passengers outward 297 Vii 

and at present has such intimate relations with that company it runs through Passenger inward . 323 614 

cars and solid trains into Chicago, si,\ty-eight miles further. This line also I'relgtit Trains, daily 28in,3lout 

connects with the great southern systems of the country, and also with the Passenger Trains, daily 34 each way 

bituminous coal fields of Western Indiana, 

STRliHr RAILWAY SKRVICE. 

Another of its divisions, the Newaygo, runs north from Grand Rapids Next in importance to its facilities for speedy and cheap communication 

to Baldwin, seventy-four miles, there connecting with the Flint and Tcre with the balance of the world, in every large and growing city— especially in 

Marquette system, and thence to Ludington and Manistee. On the route every manufacturing center, where cheap houses, quickly, easily and cheaply 

are important lumber interests, and at White Cloud, forty seven miles from accessible to or from all points of the municipality are a necessity— are ample 

Grand Rapids, is the junction with the Big Rapids and Muskegon division, street railway facilities. In this department the city offers great advantages 

tifty-five miles long, a very important lumber road. This division is quite already secured, with the certain prospect of their great extension in the 

certain to be extended in 188S, probably in two directions, the main line very near future. 

continuing through north to Traverse Citv, the other branch through north- „, . .... , 

° Ihere are two companies operating distinct systems here, which will 

west to Manistee witli its large local and lake port business. . , i , r 1 .... 

insure healthhil competition in the matter of providing new lines quite as 

This system has also another division known as the Northern, running soon as they are likely to be needed or prove profitable. 

from Allegan, 103 miles, to Pentwater, through Holland City, where it One of these companies, the Street Railway Company of Grand Rapids, 

crosses the main line, twenty six miles from Grand Rapids, Grand Haven, now has nearly fifteen miles of track in its system. All these lines pass 

.Muskegon and other important points. It also furnishes connection over the directly through the very heart of the city, through the main business streets. 

Jackson and Mackinaw system, Michigan division, via Allegan, between One of the lines, a little more than four miles long, extends from the extreme 

Grand Rapids and Toledo. This company runs thirteen passenger trains in „orth of the city to and along the extreme south boundary. This line, part 

and out of the city daily. of the way parallel with the river, connects one of the most important rail- 

THE Micillc.AX CKNTRAi. RAILROAD. way Systems and a great manufacturing and residence district with the 

, . , , center of town, thence passes south through a mile and a half of business 

Next in the order of its general completion, though not of its entrance 

streets devoted to stores, to a superior residence district and the fair grounds 
to the city, is the Michigan Central svstem — the fourth of Grand Rapids 

and race track. A second line crosses the city, from the west side to the 
connections with the seaboard. 

east side, uniting the portions separated by the river, and also running from the 

This is the Grand Rapids division from Grand Rapids to Jackson, a extreme north nearly to the south. This route also is nearly four miles long 

distance of ninety-four miles. At the latter city direct connection with the and passes through the very heart of the city. Two branches of this route, 

main Hue is reached, with its more than 1,200 miles of track aside from this in effect, one from the extreme west, almost at the center of the city, the 

division. This company is now running eight passenger trains in and out of other from the extreme northwest, run to the heart of the city only. The 

this city daily, and will probably add two more — one e.ach way — soon. third route of this company extends from the extreme southwest to the 

extreme east. This line is about three miles long and also runs through the 
THE DETROIT, LANSING AND NORTHERN RAILROAD. ° 

business center. These pass by or near the chief churches, school houses 

The Detroit, Lansing and Northern Company is now running four solid „„ 1 ,i,„ „,,Kr„ k,.i.i- „ „ aii .1 r . • j - 1 

' ° ft s .-ind the pubnc buildings, as well as the manufacturing and commercial 

trains (two e.ach way) daily between Grand Rapids and East Saginaw, a j:o.,;„.„ „„a t\,.-^.,„\, tu^ „„,.„ „„„..i„.,„ „,;^„„„« „„ .■ „ n .u 

^ J ' J I a ) districts, and ti^rougn the more populous residence portions. On the east 

distance 01 1 15 mi es. jli^^ ^j- ^j^^ ^^y^ t^^.^ routes connect with each other, making a circuit or loop 

.A.t Edmore, on this system, connection is made with the Stanton line, and also with a steam line a little more ttian two miles long leading to 

branch, from Ionia to Big Rapids, 63 miles long. the lakes — two bodies of water east of the city, one of them a mile and a 

„, . , , . . , ,„,„., half long and over half a mile wide; the other nearly half a mile in diameter. 

This company, through a new organization known as the Grand Rapids, 

,,.._.,,„ .,.,,. , .,, , , These lakes furnish the chief local pleasure resorts. 

Lansing and Detroit Railroad Company, is liuilding, and will complete early 

in May, 1888, a line not quite 50 miles long, from Grand Rapids east to The second company, the Valley City Cable and Street Railway Company, 

Grand Ledge. This line shortens the distance to Detroit and the East a made its first investment in Grand Rapids in 1887, and its fii-st projects are 

dozen miles and nearly an hour in time, and gives direct connection with the not yet entirely completed, though portions of them are already in popular 

State Capital, aiu! will prove a most important addition to the facilities of and successful operation. The main stem of this system is a cable line from 

this citv and Western Michigan. At least eight through trains daily will run the east bank of the river directly e.ast and up a hill the top of which is 

over the line. about 140 feet higher than the river level, something more than a mile, on a 

rRojKCTED RAILROADS. Street which is almost at the precise center of the city north and south. 

This line, passing from the business heart of the city, crossing the north and 
The foregoing brief sketch gives but a glance at the actual rail advan- ,,.,,, , , , , ,. 

south lines of the other system at almost the center of town, passes the City 
tages. Among the proiects for which companies are .already organized, ,,,,,„«- , , , ,. , , , 

Hall, the Postofhce and other prominent public structures, and reaches the 
which have merit, and, hence, arc likely to develop into facts, are these: , , .,, , ,, . . , , , . ~, . 

top ot a hill on a route wholly impracticable to horse-car service. I his 
The Grand Rapids and Chicago Air Line, surmised to be a Grand Trunk . . , . ■ , . r 

mam stem is connected with, or rather connects, an importaant system of 
scheme, and the Grand Rapids, Rockford and Greenville Road, now partly ^ ,. , , , , ., ^ , , ,, 

horse-car lines. One of these, already built, passes on top of the hill, to 
graded between Rockford (fourteen miles north of Gr.ind Rapids, on the , ,,,.,., , , . , , , 

the north end of the city, through a very desirable and populous residence 
Grand Rapids and Indiana) and Greenville, and intended, eventually, to ... . .,, ,, , , , , , . , , , , ,. 

district; its cars will all reach the heart of the city t)y the cable line, 
cross the State diagonally through a most important lumber district to . , ,. , , , ,,.,,. 

Another line of horee cars penetrates to the southern line of the city, a mile 
Alpena, a distance approximating too miles. , , ,, r , , ,- , , . , • • • .... 

and a half from the west end of the cable, and is in operation. A third 

These facts show how great are the present and prospective advantages line runs through the heart of the city, thence crosses thi river on a third 
of Grand Rapids business men in that most important matter, transportation. bridge, to the west, and reaches the West Side a mile and a half distant 



:6 



THE CITY OF GRAND RflPTDS. 



ironi ihe cable system. This company already has a franchise for at least 
seven miles more of its cable system, forming a belt line which takes in 
substantially the whole city. It also has a franchise for and will construct a 
ilummy line to the lakes already mentioned. 

In this connection, not distinctly as a street railway facility, yet such in 
practical results, should be mentioned the Reed's Lake branch of the Grand 
Rapids, Lansing and Detroit Railroad. This company, from a point on its 
main line a little south of the city, has built a branch about a mile and a 
half long to the lakes and proposes to ran frequent and regular passenger 
trains for pleasure resorters and suburban passengers, to the Union Depot. 



It is aiding in the development of quite a large suburban settlement, and 
probably will provide train service for the entire year. 

All the railways entering the city have suburban stations, and they are 
already preparing for special suburb.an train service in addition to the stops 
of all their many regular trains now entering and leaving the city. 

From this outline it will be seen that capitalists have unbounded failh 
in the future of the city and in this branch of business, and propose to 
greatly increase the present facilities at once, so that any who may so desire 
can secure homes "well out of the city" in any direction and still be ex- 
ceedingly near all other parts, because of the cheap street-car service. 



-®®=®®- 



(Jaritabk ^omQ$ ,0- Hospital^. 




X the matter of public and religious charities Grand Rapids 
is not surpassed by any city of its size in the country, and 
this fact describes to the thoughtful a population of the 
highest and most prosperous type. The charitable homes 
and hospitals in and about the city are constructed upon a 
large and generous scale. 

UNION BENEVOLENT ASSOCI.\TION. 

The Union Benevolent Association, organized nearly' forty years, owns 
and maintains a home and hospital that is one of the handsomest properties 
of this class in the State. It is located at the corner of College avenue and 
Lyon street. The building is large, handsome and is fitted throughout with 
all the more modern conveniences for the care and treatment of the unfortu- 
nate. In connection with the home is a training school for nurses, and the 
society also maintains an outside relief committee, to supplement its great 
work for humanity. Its home and grounds cost upwards of $40,000. 

ST. mark's home and hospital. 

St. Mark's Home and Hospital, which is maintained under the auspices 
of St. Mark's Episcopal parish, is at present located upon Island street. 
Its object is similstr to that of the Union Benevolent Association — to provide 
a home, and care for the aged, sick, poor and infirm. The work of the 
society has so far outgrown its present quarters that a new, large and com- 
modious hospital building is to be at once erected at the northeast corner of 
E.TSt Bridge and Bostwick streets. The site, costing $11,500, has been 
secured and plans perfected for a §50,000 structure to be completed dur- 
ing 18S8. 

LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR. 

The Catholic churches of the city maintain, under the immediate super- 
vision of the Little Sisters of the Poor, a home for the aged poor. But one 
wing of the large and elegant new building projected has been built and is 
now in use. The building is a model in plain architectural beauty and its 
appointments. It is located on South Lafayette street, just south of Cherry 
street. The property has cost $40,000 thus far, and when completed will 
have cost nearly Sioo,ooo. 

HOME FOR FALLEN WOMEN. 

The Womans' Christian Temperance Union maintains a home and hos- 
pital for unfortunate and fallen women upon East Fulton street. The doors 
of the institution are also thrown open to women of all classes who need 
temporary aid and assistance. 

CATHOLIC ORPHAN ASYLUM. 

The Catholic Orphan Asylum is an institution of the near future. The 
plans are prepared for a handsome structure, to be of the best materials and 
to possess all the modern improvements, which shall cost about Sioo,ooo. 
The Catholic societies of the diocese have already secured the site for the 
building, the ten acre tract lying between East Leonard and Carrier streets. 



North avenue and North College avenue. Work upon the structure will be 

pushed the present year. 

C;TY HOSPITAL. 

The city maintains a hospital for the proper care and treatment of 
city charges suffering from contagious diseases. It is located upon East 
street, near the southeast corner of the city; it is a brick structure and cost 
S7,ooo. 

Besides these there are a number of similar homes and hospitals pro- 
jected, and there are a number of private homes and hospitals that are well 
regulated and maintained. 

MICHIGAN SOLDIERS' HOME. 

Just north of the city and upon high and beautiful grounds, sloping to 
the Grand River, is located the Michigan Soldiei-s' Home, an institution 
established and maintained by the State for the care of her soldier wards. 
The institution is one of the leading places of attraction in the State, and is 
constructed upon a broad and liberal plan. The main structure is of brick 
and red sandstone and has a total frontage of 250 feet, its greatest depth 
being 120 feet. The central portion of the building is four stories high, 82 
feet to the apex of the roof, and the t\^'o wings are three stories high, 48 
feet to the eaves. A tower rises over the center of the structure 136 feet. The 
interior of the building is similar to other structures of this class and there are 
accomodations for 450 inmates. There are storage buildings surrounding and 
the grounds, comprising 144 acres, afford ample room for the pleasure and 
profit of the veterans. The grounds cost $16,500 and were donated by the 
city; the main building cost $100,000 and the surrounding buildings, with 
the water works, cost $50,000 more. The Soldiers' Home is one of the 
prided institutions of the State, and the citizens of Grand Rapids take great 
interest in it. The grounds are reached by a beautiful drive along the river 
and over one of the finest boulevards in the Northwest. 
MASONIC HOME. 

The Masonic Home, to be erected by the members of the order in 
Michigan, is designed to afford relief to worthy Master Masons, their wid- 
ows and orphans. The association has located this institution near Grand 
Rapids upon high and rolling land overlooking Reed's Lake. Plans have 
been adopted for the building and its erection is to be accomplished the 
present year. The home will be a solid, substantial and handsome structure 
of red brick and stone, and will cost $5o,ooo. It will be two stories high, 
with a lofty attic; of the Romanesque style of architecture, with a tower to 
extend 100 feet above the ground; will have two fronts, both similar in design, 
one facing toward the north and the lake and the other facing west and 
toward the popular driveway,, each front being 130 feet long. Along these 
fronts are porches and balconies and the building will be one the Masons of the 
State can take just pride in. A hospital building, detached from the home, 
boiler house, also detached, and other buildings will be erected upon the 
handsome property. The street railway, the cable railway and a branch of 
the new Grand Rapids, Lansing and Detroit Railroad gives easy access to 
the home and grounds from the city. 







x. 
y. 




IXION r.KXF.VULF.NT ASSOCIATION IIOMF. LVON STREET AND COLLEGE AVENUE. 




LADII.S- I.ITKKARV CLIT: HOUSE. 




O-WASH-TANDNC, lioAT CLin? HOUSK— REED'S LAKE. SUBURBS OF GRAND RAPIDS. 




PENINSULAR CLUB HOUSE. 



VALHATI^N .# TAXATKDN. 



R Point frorr) wliicli Grand Rapids Milst Prove Attractive to Investors. 




iOOD schools are expensive, that is, it requires money to 
maintain them, and as tliere are no better public schools 
in the world than those at Grand Rapids, it must be ex- 
pected that the school tax will be an important factor in the 
tax rolls. It is the largest item in the municipal budget, 
, is paid without protest or grumbling by all, even speculators appar- 
intly recognizing the fact that it is a good investment, because excellent 
acililies for educating the growing generations greatly enhance the value of 
)roperty of all kinds. For the fiscal year 18S7-8 the total rate of city tax- 
ition on the assessed valuation was .0214, of which .00S3, or a little more 
han three eighths, was school tax. This reckoning includes what is known 
:s the mill tax — I mill on each dollar of valuation -with the budget pre- 
ented by the Board of Education. This was a lillle higher than the aver- 
Lge for the past five years, as will be seen by examining the statement given 
lelow: 



YEAR. 


ASSF.SSF.D 
VALL-ATION. 


CITV TAX. 


R.ATE 
CITV TAX. 


SCHOOL 
TAX. 


RATE 
CITV TAX. 


TOTAL RATE 
PER CENT. 


SS3 


a9.a*4.oi2 


S227.526 


.0111 


S120.510 


.1)01)6 


1.77-100 


sm 


19.7l:'..G40 


229.369 


.0115 


131,810 


.00665 


1.71-10 


&85 


19.9t«.81l 


307,335 


.015 


120,000 


.006 


2.1-100 


fe88 


20.328.113 


228,111 


.0112 


143,100 


.007 


1.82-100 


687 


20.G80.177 


283,030 


.0134 


171.110 


.008 


2.11-1000 



The extraordinarily high rate of taxation (or 18S5 w-as due to the fact 
he bu<lget included something over $64,000 for the bridge fund, two new 
ron briilges and a part of another being built that year. There was also in 
he budget for 18S5 !-.o, 00 to pay for the site of the City Hall. As the 
ity is now well supplied with bridges, having four of iron, as good as new, 
nd one wooden one in good condition, such iiems will not appear in the 
ludget again ior many years. 

The cause of the unusual high rale for 1SS7 will be learned from the 
ludget for that year given below. 

A.S.SESSF.D vs. RE.VL V.\LU.\TION. 

As will be seen, the reckoning above is made on the assessed valuation, 
'erhiip^ a .latenient based on the real value of property will be more satis- 
ictory lo persons contemplating investments in the city. The result of 
ivestigation in this line, the transfers referred to having occurred since the 
rst of August, 1S87, is given as follow-s: 

A piece of business property, a block on Pearl street near the business 
enter of the city, which sold for $42,000, paid: city tax, S32S.S0; school tax, 
204; state tax, S60; county tax, ,$50.16. Total, S642.96, or l}4 pc cent. 

Another parcel of business property, pr.".ctically vacant, located within 
block of Campau Place, was sold in November last for $42,500. The 
axes for 18S7 were: city, S342.50; school, $212.50; state, $62.50; county, 
52.25. Total, S669.75, or 1.57-100 per cent. 

A piece of residence property, sold for $8,500, paid: city tax, $49.72; 
chool, $30.29; state, S9.20; county, $7.71. Total, S97.12, or a little less 
lian 1. 15-100 per cent. Another, sold for $6,000, paid total ta.\es $76.62, 
ir 1.27-ICX) per cent. Another was sold for $4,000 and taxed S43.42, or a 
raction over I per cent. 

Four vacant lots near the eastern city limits were sold together for 
2,100. They were taxed $25.28 — 1% per cent. Two lots in the northern 



part of the city sold for $900 were taxed $12.20 — 1^-3 per cent. A vacant 
lot, favorably situated on the West Side, which sold for $1,850, was taxed 
S25.48 — 1. 38-100 per cent. 

A site for a factory which was turned in at $i8,oco in the organization 
of a stock company, was taxed $190.80 — i. 6-100 per cent. 

Seven vacant lots in the outskirts of the Fourth Ward sold for $1,330, 
spot cash, last fall. The taxes for 1887 were $20.02 — l^ per cent. 

It will be observed that the figures, based on actual sales, include State 
and county taxes — total taxation — for a year when the rate of taxation was 
unusually high — higher, probably, than it will be for many years to come. 
WHERE THE MONEY GOES. 

The city budget for 18S7 was composed of the following items: 

City Hall interest fund S 6.866.45 

City Hall furnishing fund 11,000.00 

Water Works interest fund 80.560.00 

General fund S4.C00.00 

Poor fund 22.000.00 

Lamp fund 32.000.00 

Fire Department estimate Board Fire and Police Commissioners fund 55.849.93 

Police Department estimate Board Fire and Police Commissioners fund 53.653.68 

Superior Court fund 1,500.00 

Park fund 3,.i00.00 

First District sewer fund 1.500,00 

Second District sewer fund 500.00 

Highway fund 1,5.000.00 

For engine house. Sixth Ward .■ 5.000.00 

For the purchase of a lot for engine house in Third Ward 2,.500.00 

For construction of piers and bridges over East Side Canal at Bridge street, as 

per contract 8.600.00 



Total 5283.0-30.06 

In presenting the budget to the Council the Committee on Ways and 
Means said: " The substantial increase in the amount necessary to be raised 
by taxation for the ensuing year can be accounted for partially in conse- 
quence of the change in the liquor law, which cut off the revenue of the city 
in this direction one-half, which made it necessary to add $25,000 to the 
usual amount raised for the general fund; this, united with the prodigious 
growth of our city calling for a corresponding increase in expense, will, to a 
great extent, account for the seemingly large advance in the budget this 
year." 

THE SCHOOL HUDGET. 

The school taxes for 18S7 were appropriated as follows: 

Teachers' salaries § 75.000 

Janitors* wages 13,500 

Bonds maturing 10.000 

Interest on bonds 0.520 

Fuel 8.(100 

Purchase of school house sites 5.tK)0 

Grading and sewers 4.000 

Improvement of grounds 1,800 

School furniture 3,500 

Heating apparatus 2,000 

Contingent fund 8.000 

Repairs S,000 

Salary Superintendent of Construction 1,000 

Secretary's salary 600 

Insurance 150 

Gilbert fund 140 

Printing and advertising 500 

Library and board-room furniture and mo\-ing library 5,000 

Library expenses 3,000 



Total S152.910 



18 



THE CITY OF GRHND RflPIDS. 



The difference in the amount of the school budget and the total school 
taxes for 1SS7, shown in the schedule above, is accounted for by the fact that 
the I -mill tax is included in the tabulated statement. 

In presenting this estimate to the people for ratification the Committee 
on Ways and Means of the Board of Education said: "We have carefully 
considered the causes which have led to this increase in expenditures for 
educational purposes, and by comparing the present needs of the board with 
last year's expenditures, we find a large increase in the number of pupils, 
which made it necessary to add seventeen rooms to past facilities in order 
to meet this substantial increase in the average attendance, increasing the 
number of rooms necessarily increasing the number of teachers employed, 
which items, added to a large deficit oti last year's business, accounts for the 
amount asked for in advance of last year. 

SALARIES OF CITV OFFICERS. 

Under charter provison the salary of the Mayor is fixed by the Common 
Council at not to exceed Si, 200 per year. At present it is fixed at $750. 

The City Clerk gets Si. 000 per year and fees, and is allowed such as- 
sistant clerk hire as the Council may deem necessary. The salary of the 
deputy clerk is S750. 

The Comptroller is allowed Sl,200 per year, with a small amount of 
assistance when absolutely necessary. 

The Treasurer's salary is £2,500, and his deputy receives $1,200. No 
fees or other emoluments. 

The Marshal draws Si, 200 per year and his deputy is paid by the day, 
his wages averaging about S740 per year. The Marshal is also allowed S12 
per week as clerk hire. 

The salaiy of the City Attorney is $2,500, with an assistant at S750. 

The salary of the Judge of the Superior Court ($2,500) is paid by the 
State, the city paying the Clerk Si, 000 per year and the messenger $312 
iper year. 

The Director of the Poor receives $1,000 per annum, and the keeper of 
(he city supply store $750. 

The Health Officer receives $1,500; the City Physician the same 
amount, and the Secretary of the Board of Health S750. 

Members of the Board of Review and Equalization, three of them, are 
paid $3 per day for time actually spent in the discharge of their duties. 
They are required to make oath to the correctness of their claim when pre- 
sented to the Comptroller. 

The Judge of Police Court draws a salary of $1,500, and the Clerk of 
the same court $1,000. All other officials connected with the Police Depart- 
ment are paid from the department fund. 

The meinbers of the Board of Public Works receive $3 per day while 
in the active discharge of their duties. Their clerk is paid $1,200 per year. 

The City Surveyor and his assistants cost the city about $4,000 per 
year. 

Members of the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners and of the 
Board of Education receive no compensation. 

WARD OFFICERS. 

The Aldermen, two for each ward, draw a salary of $200 per year, 
paid from the general fund, and receive extra compensation for acting as 
Inspectors of Election and as members of the Boards of Registration. 



The Supervisors, one for each ward, are paid $2 per day for the tim 
actually spent in the discharge of their duties. 

The Ward Collectors draw $2 per day from the first Monday in Decen 
ber until January 10, and get a percentage on collections made after tl 
latter date. 



ASSETS AND LIABILITIES. 

A B.\LANCE SHEET WHICH SHOWS GRAND RAPIDS IS SOLID FINANXIALL' 

The indebtedness of the city amounts to nearly $750,000. It consis 
of $382,000 in water bonds bearing interest at 8 per cent., due in 1893 ar 
1895. Two hundred thousand dollars in school building bonds, all bi 
$28,000 of which bear interest at 4 and 5 per cent. The first installment- 
$4,000 — becomes due June I, 18S8, and the money to meet it is in tl 
treasury. The balance of the school bonds become due, a part in eac 
year, except 1906, until 1907, the largest installments, $21,000 each, matu 
ing in 1905 and 1907. The City Hall bonds, $150,000, interest at 5 p^ 
cent., are due in 1904. Total bonded indebtedness $732,000, to which m: 
be added a few thousand dollars borrowed for furnishing the City Hall, etc 
to be paid in the fall of 18SS. 



To account for its indebtedness the city can show its system of wat< 
works, which can be sold for $500,000 whenever the citizens vote to do s^ 
school property estimated by the Board of Education at a cash value 
5650,000 ; engine houses and other Fire Department property reported by tl 
Board of Police and Fire Commissioners as worth, at a fair cash valuatioi 
$121,000; the bridges worth, with the approaches and canal bridges, $205 
000; parks which would sell quickly for $100,000; city hospital just cor 
pleted at a cost, including the five-acre lot, of $6,600; the City Hall, also ju 
completed, at a cost of $310,000, including site; and the equipment of tl 
Police Department, including the electric signal system, etc., $9,600. Tote 
$1,902,100. Less the liabiUties, not over 8750,000, this leaves the city's n 
assets $1,252,100. 



RENT. 



The rooms occupied by the city offices and Superior Court are rented 
an expense of $2,400 per year; also the rooms occupied by the Board 
Public Works, City Surveyor, etc., at $1,500; also Public Library and Boai 
of Education rooms. Si, 200, and the quarters occupied by the Police D 
partment at $1,300 per year. Except the latter item the rent account wi 
be closed when the City Hall is ready for occupancy. 



POSTAL STATISTICS. 

The total receipts of the Grand Rapids Postoffice for 18S7 were $92 
692.23; expenses, $34,343.67. Net revenue, $58,348.56. Twenty-tw 
carriers are employed, and during 1887 the aggregate number of pieo 
handled was 10,511,612. Mail letters collected, 2,462,230; mail lette 
delivered, 3,804,080. The money-order business amounted in 1887 ■ 
$545,575.23, ol which $149,204.98 was received for orders issued, ar 
$393,370.25 was paid out on orders received. Notwithstanding the redu' 
tion in the rate and the increase in the weight carried by a single stamp, tl 
net revenue from the Postoffice has been doubled since 1877. 



^m A NEWS CENTER, 



Tine Press— Vast Range Covered by l^e Nilrrieroils Publications— The Telegraph 

and Telephone Service. 




OT alone to the natural resources or the indomitable energy 
of its citizens does Grand Rapids owe its present flourish 
ing condition. In a large degree its newspapers are en- 
ti;lcd to the credit. Puring the years Grand Rapids has 
been steadily pushing its way to a front place among the 

business centers of the great Northwest the press has maintained an un 

ceasing advocacy of its best interests and advantages. 

If the intellectual and moral condition of the inhabitants of Grand 
Rapids is to be adjudged by the facility of gathering and promulgating news, 
then certainly no city of the same population, and few even larger, can boast 
of a higher plane. There are in this city published and circulated no less 
tlian thirty-two journals of various kinds, and of these 4 are daily, 17 weekly, 
I semi-weekly and 10 monthly. English, German, Holland and Skandi- 
navian are the languages in which they are published. To publish so large 
a number of papers requires the labors of over 300 persons, and the daily 
papers alone furnish an average of seventy-five columns of reading matter 
per day. The two greatest news collecting bureaus in the world, Asssoci- 
ated and United Press, supply the foreign reports each d.iy. The weeklies, 
semi-weeklies and monthlies cover nearly every branch of current literature. 
News, science, politics, religion, trade, manufacturing, building, real estate 
and fiction are sub'erts which these periodicals handle, in some instances 
exclusively, in all collectively. 

The evolution of the newspapers of Grand Rapids has been positive 
and decidedly characteristic of the many investments in which her citizens 
are actively enlisted. 



To meet the requirements of so progressive a community necessitates 
the employing of the quickest methods of transacting business. The tele- 
graph and telephone form an indispensable part of every business man's 
daily life. No city of equal size offers better and greater facilities for the 
rapid transmission of messages than Grand Rapids. Three telegraph 
services. Western Union, Michigan Postal, and Grand Rapids and Indiana, 
connect this city with every point in the civilized world. The number of 
words sent from here in 1887 by the Western Union was 125,000; received 
here, 124,000; number of words in press report sent 110,000, and received 
2,250,000. During the same year the Michigan Postal Company sent 
15,335 ^""^ received 14,727 messages. The words received by the press on 
this line for the same time was 16,000. 

The growth of the telephone service since its organization in 1879 '^ 
something prodigious. There are now 625 miles of telephone wire stretched 
in this city connecting with the central ofhce, 1,042 telephones and 100 
towns and cities in the surrounding country. The annual report ol the tele- 
phone company throughout the United States is accountable for the state- 
ment that Grand Rapids has the greatest number of telephones in active use 
of any city in the world of the same population. The average is a telephone 
to ever 70 persons. In 1SS6 the increase over the preceding year of tele- 
phones in use was 15 per cent., and in 1SS7, iS per cent., and for the first 
two months in 1888 over 60 telephones were put in for new subscribers. 
This one fact serves to dem.onstrate that Grand Rapids is not retrogressive, 
but decidedly and eminently progressive. 



-S§)=- 



guildino glalisli^^. 



The Visible iWarks of Graqd Rapids Steady GroWtl^ — Tl:\e Structural Beauty of tl:ie City. 



[^^^^^^^■^^g^illE character of any city, and the history of its growth, 
isj; can be determined by a consideration of its buildings. 
Tliey are to the muncipality what the face is to the man, 
anil in them can be traced the steps from the earliest period 
of communal growtli up to present, and give undisputed 




evidence as to whether the growth h.is been through adolescence to a vigor- 
ous present, or, failing of the high purposes of early days, only the p.ast 
presents anything of worth. 

.\LWAVs pkoi;ressive. 

Grand Rapids shows an unbroken record of progress. Turn the pages 
of her building history and only progress can be noted. Study the present 
structures, and, though the representations of the earliest periods are scarce, 
llie classes of buildings which mark historical epochs can be still found. 
The building of the early settle;-, still solid and substantial, fit emblem of 
the sturdy integrity of the men who founded with faith that the future 



would fill out their foundation to the city they could even then see. Then 
comes relics of the village period — good, substantial stores and houses, mostly 
having experienced the effects of growth in being relegated to the suburbs 
to make way for younger, larger and handsomer structures for business pur- 
poses. The early city days are marked, in an architectural sense, by the 
results of the idea which declared four stories in height and .\ plate glass 
store front the proper thing in business blocks. 

THE BUILDINGS OF THE PRESEV. ' 

The last period, the period of to-day, and which was ushered in when 
the city became really metropolitan, breaking the former bounds which con- 
fined business structures, aside from factories, to a few streets, is marked by 
the rising of such edifices as are worthy to be the business blocks, warehouses 
and factories of a great commercial and industrial center, such as only great 
cities can either utilize or pay for. The growth is as solid, as great, and the 
material used has kept pace with other things, so that permanency and 



20 



THE CITY OF GRAND RflPIDS. 



security from destructive conflagrations has been established as far as human 
foresight can provide, while the designs of the best architectural talent has 
been used to add to the attractiveness of the work. 

THE DEMAND FOR BllLDINGS. 

The growth, which has given Grand Rapids at the present time 4,000 

business buildings and 12,000 residences, has been steady. The demand 

has been always, if anything, slighdy in advance of construction, so that, 

while adding about 1,000 structures each year for the past few years, there 

has never been an excess over the wants of the expanding population of the 

city. 

A GL'ARANTEE OK STABILITY. 

The best guarantee of stability is found in the condition of residence 
property. A house and lot not only comprises a home, but is usually a sav- 
ings bank as well. Here are invested a man's savings, invested because he 
has confidence, not only in present values, but firm faith in the future. In 
this respect, Grand Rapids is thorouglily endorsed; her houses are one of 
her chief glories. The taste and prosperity of her inhabitants are evidenced 
in the beautiful cottages and more ambitious residences scattered all over the 
corporation. 

NO FAVORED LOCALITY. 

To no one favored locality is confined the handsome residence buildings. 
There are no streets made the special show place to impress strangers. East, 
west, north and south can be found houses which speak volumes for the gen- 
eral prosperity of the people. While magnificent residences, fit for the 



dwellings of commercial princes, are plentiful, the middle class houses, thos 
endorsements of the solvency, integrity and push of the people of the Valle 
City, greatly outnumber them, and, with the magnificent public buildings 
churches, school-houses and the humbler homes owned by the laborini 
classes hostages to the future. 

CONCLUSIVE FIGURES. 

In 1887, the growth in building, save that the cost was greater, was bu 
a repetition as to number of structures of the record of years just passed, 
During the year, 993 buildings were erected and covered almost every cl: 
of structures known to cities. The 81,127,840 spent for residences was scat- 
tered through every ward. The following is a brief statement of th( 

building statistics for the year: 

New and 
Class. Reconstructe] 

Stores, etc $624,050 

Public Buildings _ 436,000 

Factories, etc.... .' 27il,100 

Churches and Hospitals 68,000 

Residences, etc 1.127,840 



Total S2.534,990 

An analysis of the figures given will surprise even residents of the city, 
so quietly has the work gone on, and must convince those seeking a location 
of the advantages of this city as a point of settlement. The tide of 
prosperity is settling this way, and the fortunate ones, taking advantage of it, 
will float on to fortune. 



-®®®®- 



gublic J^uilclings. 




I HE growth of Grand Rapids in material wealth and the 
city's prosperity is illustrated more plainly in nothing than 
ill the number and character of her public buildings, al- 
ready completed, in process of erection or contemplated. 
These public structures are substantial and imposing; many 
of them being conspicuous for their superior architectural design, and the 
completeness of their appointments. Among the more prominent of these 
is the United States building. It is located near the geographical center of 
the city and occupies the block bounded by I. yon, North Division, Pearl 
and North Ionia streets. Its architectural design is in keeping with this 
class of government work throughout the country. The entire lower floor 
is occupied by the Postoffict, the second floor by the offices of the govern- 
ment oflicials stationed here, including the Collector of Internal Revenue, 
the United States Marshal and the United States District Attorney. The 
upper floor is occupied by the court and jury rooms of the United States Dis- 
trict and Circuit Courts for the Western Michigan District. The grounds 
surrounding the building are well kept and are worth considerable more 
than the building itself. 

The City Hall, by far the handsomest structure in the city, is located 
upon the south half of the block bounded by Crescent avenue. North Ionia, 
1 .yon and Ottawa streets, and faces Lyon street. Its ground dimensions 
are 160x96 feet, and the building consists of four stories and a high base- 
ment, with a tower at the Lyon-Otlawa stieet corner 140 feet high. It is 
solidly constructed, its outer walls being of stone, roughly cut, and the whole 
structure being fire-proof, w ood entei ing alone into the flooi-s, finishing and 
inside frame work. In the structure apartments are provided for every 
branch of municipal business, and there are also large rooms set apart for 
the city's extensive public library, the city's higher court and a Common 
Council chamber. The building is heated by steam, ample elevator service 
is supplied, vaults and safes for the preservation of valuable papers and 
documents are provided in the principal offices, and every modern conven- 
ience is al Iiand, the whole making a structure as nearly perfect as possible 



and the finest of its kind in Michigan. It cost the city, ready for occupancy, 
$310,000. 

A large and handsome building site has recently been secured upon 
Crescent avenue, extending from Kent to Ottawa streets, for a county build- 
ing, and a handsome structure, to cost $150,000, will soon be erected 
thereon, affording a home for the county courts and officers commensurate 
with the dignity of Kent County. The present county building, at the cor- 
ner of Lyon and Kent streets, is not worthy of any special notice. 

The County Jail is located upon the corner of Campau and Louis 
streets. It is solidly constructed of brick and stone and cost the county 
about $60,000. 

There are upon the business thoroughfares a large number of buildings, 
generally classed as public structures, that are beautiful in design, massive in 
appearance and of large proportions. Many of this class are five and ev.n 
six stories high, and they are generally supplied with elevators and modern 
conveniences of such structures built for general public uses in the most met- 
ropolitan cities. 

CLUB HOUSES. 

That Grand Rapids is eminently a social city is manifest, even to the 
stranger, by the number and character of her social club houses. These 
club buildings, in general appointments, cost, elegance and management, 
are surpassed nowhere in the Northwest, The Peninsular Club occupies a 
large, beautiful and central club house at the corner of Ottawa and Fountain 
streets, near Monroe. The building is of red pressed brick and cut sand- 
stone and is a model in architectural design and the builder's art, both out- 
side and in. The building, with its furnishings, cost $50,000. 

The O-Wash-ta-Nong Boat Club, universally regarded as one ol the 
most successful and best equipped clubs of the kind in the whole country, 
occupies p.alatial quarters in the Barnhart building on Ionia street, corner of 
Louis. The club also owns and maintains a handsome boat house upon the 
banks of Reed's Lake, the city's popular summer resort. The boat house, 




1111)1111 





fi 1 1 u 



lhv hall. 




PEARL STREET. 




In ilie Pmc Woods o£ Michigan. A Logging-Railroad owned and operated by Grand Rapids Lumbermen. 




MONROE STREET. 




CANAL STREET. 



THE CITY OF GRAND RflPIDS. 



21 



which is also fitted up as a club house, overlooks the rowing course of the 
Northwestern Amateur Rowing Association, which has decided to hold its 
annual meetings here for five consecutive years. The real and personal 
property held by the club is valued at over §30,000. 

Tlie Ladies' Literary Club owns a handsome club house, constructed of 
brick and stone, upon .Sheldon street, near Island. The building embraces 
assembly parlors, library, auditorium, etc., and cost over $15,000. 

Nearly every nationality represented in the city's population is also rep- 
resented by a chib building, where the meml)ers, their wives, families and 
friends assemble for social pleasures. Among these are the club buildings of 
the Arbeiter Verein, on Jefferson street, costing $20,000; the Turn Vcrein, 
also on Jefferson street, costing §7,000; the Germania, costing §9,000; the 
Casino, costing S9.000; Holland Society's Hall, §6,000; PoHsh, Danish 
and Scandinavian halls, costing from §2,500 to §5,000. 

There are also a large number of clubs, organized purely for social 
]iurposes, that occupy apartments of no mean or insignificant proportions in 
pui)lic and ]invate blocks of the city. 

Tllli THEATKES. 

The city is well ]iroviiIed u ilh public places of amusement and tlie very 
best operatic and dramatic attractions appear in them. 



Powers' Grand Opera House, one of Michigan's finest theatre buildings, 
is centrally located in the Powers building upon Pearl street. The theatre 
has a seating capacity of 1,500, is heated by steam, lighted by both gas and 
electricity, and possesses all the modern improvements found in buildings of 
this natin'e. 

Redmond's Grand Opera House is located on Canal street, near East 
Bridge, and is a handsome and modern play house with a seating cap.acity of 
1,200. The building, with the theatre furnishings, cost upwards of 
§100,000. 

Smith's Ojiera House is located at the comer of Waterloo and Louis 
streets, is a model vaudeville playhouse and cost $40,000. 

The Wonderland Theatre is on Canal street, about midway between 
Huron and Erie streets, and is a handsome and cozy amusement 
structure. 

There are a large number of [niblic halls, located in various parts 
of the city, that are constructed and well adapted for the presentation 
of theatricals, operas, concerts, lectures and public entertainments gen- 
erally. 



-®6)®®- 



Municipal ImproDcmcnt^. 



Tl\e Coriditior) of tl^e Public Streets of tl:\e City — Tl^e Sewerage ar)d Water "WorKs Systeii\s. 



lpK>-— i^^PIOOD streets to drive over, good sewerage to carry off the 

W /i^^^^\^ drainage of the city, and facilities for water supply are 

"\ A^^^SJl \ great desiderata in the eyes of the intending settlers. In 

"^ <^iy\j^] •■>'! these respects. Grand Rapids makes an excellent show- 

-'^ "'^ I ing- 

STREETS. 

The total mileage of streets in the city is 143.012, of which there were 
on January I, 18SS: 

itlLKS. 

Gr.tded and paved with wood and stone 6.114 

Graded and paved with wood 1.388 

Graded and paved with stone 1.178 

Graded, graveled and gutters paved i3.367 

Graded and graveled 32.10.'i 

Graded 3.000 

Unimproved 55 770 

Total 1J3.012 

The al)Ove statement shows that 69 per cent, of all the streets in the 
city have been improved in some manner. 

The following talile shows the amount and cost of work done since the 
year ending April 30, iZ'iz, for each year to date January I, 1888: 



VFAR 

Al'Kli- 30 



MII.KS OK 

srM::KT 

IMI'KUVl^U, 



1SS3 1.710 

I 

l.it .'..875 

1 -S) i 4.783 



COST OP 
I.MPKOVEMENTS. 



VKAR 

IiM>lNO 
AI'KIL 30. 



422.870 73 
61.748 86 
72,603 00 



1886 
1887 

JANUAKY J. 
188S 



MILKS OP 

STKtKT 
l.MI'KOVEU. 



3.701 
7.230 
7.8S1 



COST OF 
IMPROVEMENTS. 



i 40.020 00 

112.230 00 

99.574 00 



Tlie total length of streets impioved during this period is 30.952 miles, 

:.\ a cost of 5409,046.59. 

WAiER Works. 

In llie public water works system, there are 28 miles of mains now laid. 



which, with the 296 fire hydrants, gives protection to property over an area 
of more than two square miles, or nearly one-fourth the area of the city. 
Tliis includes the entire business and manufacturing interests, and covers 
also, much of the more valuable of the residence portion of the corporation. 

PRIVATE WATER. CORPORATION. 

The Grand Rapids Hydraulic Company's supply, at present, is from 
springs. Steps have been taken looking to a supply of water from a point 
three-quarters of a mile north of the city, where a well has been dug. The 
company's system consists of eight miles of pump logs and six miles of cast 
iron pipe, the latter laid last season. 

SEWERS. 

There are 42.669 miles of sewers in the city, as follows: 

Miles. 
Brick sewers 17^88 

Glazed pipe sewers 22 690 

Cement pipe sewers ion 

Wood sewers 1.8.i3 

Iron pipe in river jgQ 

Total 42.869 

The length of sewers constructed each year since the fiscal year, endin" 
.\pril 30, 1SS2, and the cost thereof, is as follows: 



YEAR 


NO. OF MILES 


1 


YEAR 


NO. OF MILES 




KNULNG 


CONSTRtrcTF.n 


COST OK SAME. ' 


E.MJING 


CONSTRirCTED 


COST OF SAME. 


AI'RIL 30. 


EACH YEAR. 


1 


APRIL 30. 


EACH YEAR. 




1883 


1.790 


S 9.929 70 1 


1887 


2,8.>t 


S17.B40 00 


1884 


3.229 


28.226 31 


jani;arv I. 






1S85 


6.114 


87,376 80 


1888 


3.16.1 


12.463 80 



The tot.-il cost for the work in the five years above noted is $155,63661 
for a length of 17.152 miles of sewers. 



LIGHTING THE CITY- 



Gas and Electric Lights Filrnisiied by Cornpeting Corripariies. 




HE Grand Rapids Gas Light Company was organized in the 
year 1857, and began operations with one "bench" of 
three retorts, and a storage capacity of 25,000 cubic feet — 
which was much more than was then needed. Additions 
to the plant were made from time to time as the city grew. 
The company some years since purchased six acres of land at the comer of 
Wealthy and Oakland avenues, on which has recently been erected complete 
new works. Nothing in the city better illustrates its substantial growth than 
the fact that such large works had become a necessity. From three retorts 
and a storage capacity of 25, 000 feet in 1857, to one hundred retorts and a 
storage capacity of half a million feet in thirty years, tells the story of the 
growth of the city. The company's plant now comprises thirty-five miles 
of street mains, and the amount of coal used annually is 10,000 tons. 

ELECTRIC LIGHTIXG. 

The Grand Rapids Electric Light and Power Company was organized 
March 22, iSSo, with a capital stock of $100,000. The company purchased 
its first dynamo (a si.\teen- light Brush) and the requisite lamps and lines in 
July, 1880, placing the dynamo in the basement of the Wolverine Chair and 
Furniture Company's factory, the company renting power to propel it. The 
lights were first exhibited in July, 1S80. 



At the present time the plant consists of water and steam power com- 
bined, to the extent of 525 horse power, and twenty-three dynamos, suffici- 
ent to supply 450 arc lamps of 2,000 candle power each, and 1,000 incan- 
descent lamps of sixteen candle power each. At the present time the com- 
pany is furnishing to its patrons upward of 250 arc and 500 incandescenl 
lights, besides a number of motors furnishing power during the daytime. 
About forty-five miles of line wire is in use, covering a distance of ovei 
fifteen miles of streets. The company is now furnishing for the city i ic 
street lights, the greater number of which are suspended over the centers of 
the streets. 

The Edison Electric Light Company was organized in 1887, with a 
capital of $200,000. Eleven miles of line have already been constructed. 
The company has now placed under ground 30,000 feet of copper feeders, 
weighing two pounds to the foot. The present plant starts up with four 
boilers, each of no horse power capacity, three engines with 15x18 cylin- 
ders, and six dynamos, capable of feeding 4,000 incandescent lamps simul- 
taneously. The company already have stores, dwellings, hotels, etc., wired 
to the amount of over 3,000 lamps, and accessions to this number are con- 
stantly being made. This is an incandescent plant only, for the supplying 
of interior lighting and power. The Sprague electric motor will be used, 
and power will be furnished, from the same w-ires that supply light, in any 
amount up to fifty horse power. 



®<§S®®- 



Police and pire protection. 



Hovs^ tl\e Lives and Property of Citizens are Guarded — Tlrie Cost of Maintaining tl^e Police and 

Fire Departnqents 




■T' )TH Police and Fire Departments of the city of Grand Rap- 
5y / ills are under the control and guidance of a Board of Police 
and Fire Commissionei-s, composed of five members, 
appointed by the Mayor, with and by the consent of the 
Common Council — one every five years. The commis- 
sioners hold weekly meetings, at which the affairs of the departments are 

considered. 

THE POLICE DEP.IRTMENT. 

The police department numbers seventy-one officers, men and employes, 
as follows: One superintendent, two sergeants, two detectives, two court 
officers, one truant officer, fifty-one patrolmen, two patrol-wagon men, three 
drivers, two clerks, three operators, one janitor and one matron. 

There are twenty-seven beats in the city, nine of which are constantly 
patrolled. The remaining eighteen beats are patrolled from four o'clock P. 
M. until four o'clock A. M. The patrolmen are divided into three squads, 
or watches. The day watch patrols from eight A. M. until four P. M. ; the 
dog watch from four to eight P. M., and from four to eight A. M.; and the 
night watch from eight P. M. to four A. M. 

In connection with beats is the patrol box system, one of the finest fea- 
tures of the department. There are thirty-sLx of these boxes, twenty-eight 



of which have telephones. The remaining eight are used to call for helii 
from remote districts not patrolled. The boxes are connected with police 
headquarters. Twenty-five miles of wire are used in the system. Each 
patrolman reports to headquarters at each end of his beat, and the exact 
hour is there recorded by an operator. These reports are carefully saved 
and bound so that in after years a person can tell, by refeiTing to the records, 
where an officer was at a certain hour on a given date. If a patrolman 
wishes help or the wagon, or instructions, he asks for it, and many times 
receives instructions from the sergeant in charge of the station through the 
same channel. If a patrolman fails to report in a reasonable length of time 
after he should do so, another officer is detailed to look him up and'ascertain 
the cause of the difficulty. In connection with the system is a two-horse 
wagon, with a man constantly in charge. The wagon attends all alarms 
from the patrol boxes and many calls by private telephone. It also attends 
all fires, in order to give necessary police protection. There is also a one- 
horse wagon, on duty during the day only. It is used in carrying prisoners 
to and from the jail, sending after witnesses for Police Court, and for persons 
for whom warrants have been issued, returning lost children to their homes, 
taking sick and disabled persons to the different homes and hospitals, and 
other like work. 



THE CITY OF GRAND RflPIDS. 



23 



One oft'icer devotes liis entire time to seeing that llie truant law is 
enfoiceii, and that the factories do not employ help imder the proper age. 

The officers are all well drilled in the use of the revolver and club, and 
aie requireil to spenil a jiortion of their time daily in practice. The entire 
force is as well drilled as most military companies in the State. The advan- 
tage of having a well-drilled, well disciplined force can readily be seen. 

From May i, lS86, to May i, 1887, there were 1,472 arrests made by 
the officers. Of the number, 1,393 were males and 79 were females, and 
only nine of the entire number could neither read nor write. A comparative 
statement for the ten months ending March I, 1S88, shows the number of 
arrests to have been 1,493 — ^ ^'"^'T respectable showing, when it is considered 
how rapidly the population of the city is increasing; that new State laws and 
amended city ordinances made many more arrests necessary. 

It costs in round nun^bers 55,000 per month to maintain this branch of 
the city's business. 

In connection with the lorce, and under the supcr\ isi(.)n of the commis- 
sioners, is the Grand Kapids Police Relief and Benefit Association, which 
assists and relieves jiatrolmen when injured in service or who are disabled by 
sickness. 

THi; I'lRF nEP.\RTMENT. 

This department has eight line brick engine houses, valued at S6o,ooo; 
seven four-wlicele<l modern hose carriages, two chemical engines, four steam- 
ers, two hook and ladder trucks, one telegraph wagon, one supply, and 
15,000 feet of hose. Forty-four full pay men are employed, and forty-one 
part-pay men. There are thirtveiglit horses in the department, employed 
for its various uses. The full-pay men spend their entire time at the engine 



houses, excepting when at their meals. The part-pay men sleep at the 
houses, and during the day are at their places of business, which have gongs 
connected with the telegraphic alarm system, and in case of an alarm the 
men respond. 

In the fire alarm system there are seventy-five alarm boxes, maintained 
at city expense. These boxes are conveniently located, so as to give the 
quickest and most satisfactory results. Fifty miles of wire are used in the 
system, one large bell in the city hall tower on which the alarms are struck, 
eleven gongs, si.v tower bells and twelve telephones. 

Something of the efTectiveness of the department can be seen by the 
following figures of losses for the past five and one-half years: From Sep- 
tember 15, 1882, to September 15, 1883, §77,581.40; from September 15, 
1883, to September 15, 1884, $101,327.50; from September 15, 1884, to May 
I, 18S5, §19,798.10; from May I, 1S85, to May I, :886, §75,747-38; from 
May I, 1886, to January i, 1S87, $26,542; from January I, 1887, to January 
I, 1888, §254,855, the largest by far since 1875. The loss for 1887 included 
the destruction of a large five-story furniture factory, containing finishing, 
storing and sales rooms. This loss amounted to §190,000. Aside from this 
one fire, the losses for the year 1887 only amounted to $64,855. Since this 
fire, a large Button steamer has been added to the apparatus, making the 
department much more efficient. 

The value of the property in the department will closely approximate 
§125,000, and it costs the city about §5,500 per month to maintain this 
branch of its business. 

As in the case of the police department, there is a benefit association in 
the fire department for the benefit ol sick and disabled firemen. 



sss- 



•^c @iirt§. 



Tt^e Yanous Brariclies of tl^e Judiciary Wiiicti Belong in Grand Rapids — Tl^e LavJyers arid 

Otl^er Professional iVLeri. 




^^ — =5:^^HE various courts, Federal, County and Municipal, located 
at Grand Rapids, make it the judicial center of Western 
Michigan. 

By act of Congress, 1863, the Western Judicial Dis- 
trict of Michigan was established and the sessions of the 
District Court are held in the Government Building in this city, except cer- 
tain terms, which are held at Marquette in the Upper Peninsula. The dis- 
trict is included in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, which is alloted to Justice 
St.\m.ky Matthfws, of the Supreme Court. The Circuit Judge is Hon. 
IIowKi.i. E. Jackson, of Tennessee. 

The terms of both comts commence on the first Tuesday In March and 
October of each year. All the officers of the United States Courts for the 
Southern Division resfde in Grand Rapids except the Hon. Henrv F. 
Severhns, whose home is in Kalamazoo. Judge Severens holds coin t In 
Grand Rapids on Tuesday of each Week. 

THE COUNTY C0|:RT. 
The County of Kent composes the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of 
Michigan and the court practically Is In continuous session during the 
entire year. The business of one term is seldom disposed of before another 
term begins. There are four terms of court a year commencing on the 
first Mondays of March, May and December and the third Monday of 
September. At the beginning of each term It generally takes about two 
weeks to dispose of the criminal business, after which civil cases are taken 



up. There are generally about 200 cases on the calendar for each term, 
nearly one-third of which are appeals from Justice Courts. 

THE SUPERIOR COURT. 

The Superior Court of Grand Rapids is a municipal court of original 
jurisdiction, concurrent with the Circuit Court In civil cases where either 
or both the parties are residents of the city. The Superior Court has ex- 
clusive jurisdiction in all cases where the city or any of its officers is a party, 
and has exclusive appellate jurisdiction where appeals are made from the 
Police Court of the city. It also has original and exclusive jurisdiction for 
the prosecution of all crimes and offenses cognizable by a court of record 
committed within the corporate limits of the city. The rules and practice 
of the court are the same as in the Circuit Court of the .State. Any case 
commenced in the Circuit Court which might have been commenced in the 
Superior Court can be removed to the Superior Court by petition of the de- 
fendant on filing a proper bond. Very few cases, however, are thus re- 
moved. 

THE PROBATE COURT. 

The third State court of record in Grand Rapids is the Probate Court 
of Kent County. This court is held In the Court Block on Lyon street, and 
is open daily for business. The entire time of the Probate Judge and of the 
Register is now occupied, and soon more help will be required as the busi- 
ness of the court Is largely on the Increase. Year by year It becomes more 
and more necessary that those having business in the court should be repre- 



24 



THE CITY OF GRHND RHPIDS. 



sented by attorney. The amount of business will soon be so large that the 
Judge can act only judicially, and the routine work must be done by sub- 
ordinates, while the legal papers for the court will necessarily be drawn by 

attorneys. 

THE VOI.ICE COURT. 

The Police Court of Grand Rapids is a municipal court which takes cog- 
nizance of violations of the provisions of the city charter and ordinances, 
and has original jurisdiction over cases of misdemeanor and of a quasi-crim- 
inal nature, and has exclusive original jurisdiction in cases of felony com- 
mitted within the territorial limits of the city. The practice in the Police 
Court is similar to that of Justice Courts. The Police Court has a Clerk, but 
is not a court of record. The court meets daily. 

There are in the city of Grand Rapids four Justices of the Peace. 
Each Justice has an office convenient to the business part of the 
city, and devotes his entire time to his official duties. Every year each 
Justice has from 5oo to i,ooo cases commenced, of which about two-thirds 
go to judgment. From each Justice Court from fifteen to twenty-five cases 
are appealed to the higher court each year, and each Justice has on an aver- 
age from two to eight jury cases a month. 

LAWYERS. 

There are in Grand Rapids about 140 lawyers and law firms, but not 
all are engaged in active practice. Many act as insurance, real estate and 
loan agents, and while doing a profitable business, never appear in court. 
Quite a number of law firms have a large collection business which very sel- 
dom brings them into court, while a few have large business interests and 
are lawyers only in name. 

The Bar Association of Grand Rapids, of which the prominent lawyers 
of the city are members, is an association organized for the same purposes 
as such associations are organized elsewhere. 

The Law Libraiy of Grand Rapids is an institution recently organized 
and has very brilliant prospects. It is an incorporated company with a 
capital of $20,000. At present the library consists of about 3,500 volumes. 
It has all the reports of the United States Supreme and Circuit Courts, and 
soon will have all the State and territorial reports. The library rooms are 
in the new Houseman Block, opposite the new City Hall, a location con- 
venient and pleasant. 

PHYSICIANS. 

Physicians and surgeons are well represented in Grand Rapids, both in 
numbers and professional merit. There are about 140 doctors in active 



practice, a few of whom have been practicing in the place since Grand Rap- 
ids was a frontier village. 

The Grand Rapids Academy of Medicine is an association of the best 
physicians in the citv. It meets once in two weeks for the purpose of dis- 
cussing matters of interest to the profession. Elaborate papers of literary 
and scientific merit are often prepared and read at these meetings. Original 
investigation and research form a large part of the society's work. It is a 
branch of the American Medical Association and its membership is not con- 
fined to the city limits. 

OTHER PROFESSIONAL MEN. 

There are about twenty-five dentists in Grand Rapids, nearly all of 
whom are comparatively young men, although there are three or four veter- 
ans who have been in constant practice for more than thirty years. The city 
dentists have a due proportion of patronage from out of town. 

There are in Grand Rapids about 175 registered pharmacists and 
forty-five drug stores, and the drug business is fairly conducted upon 
business principles. No commissions are paid to physicians, and no physi- 
cian is a secret partner in any drug store. The pharmacists have an associa- 
tion called the Grand Rapids Pharmaceutical Circle which meets once a 
month, and of which every druggist in the city is a member. This associa- 
tion is considered the model association of its kind in the country, and is often 
referred to by the leading pharmacy journals. 

The clergymen of the city number about fifty, and among them the best 
of fraternal feeling exists. The majority of them are young, energetic men, 
who have been carefully educated for their work, and nearly all are college 
graduates. The Pastors Conference of Grand Rapids is an organization to 
which only evangelical ministers are admitted. It numbers about twenty-five 
members, and holds its meetings every Monday afternoon at the Young 
Men's Christian Association parlors. Practical topics and questions of public 
interest are discussed, new books are reviewed, and the state of Christian 
work in the city is considered. 

There are in the city three architects who each employ from two to a 
half-dozen assistants. The work of one office, which makes a specialty of 
cottages and residences, is almost wholly foreign; the work of another is 
almost wholly local; while the third office has work both at home and abroad. 
The amount of work ranges from $600,000 to $800,000 a year to each office, 
and each office produces annually from one to two hundred designs. 





ENGINE HlJfSE NU. 




TLRNKK SIRELT SCHOOL. 



STkAK^.HT SI KKl.T Mil' m <l. 




DIVISION .STREPZT SCHOOL. 



t 



THE CITY SeHd^LS. 



The Free Public Sclnools— Tlieir Maintenance and Cost— The Courses TaUglit— Private 

Schools— The Free Public Library. 




HE Public Free Schools of Grand Rapids are second to none 
in the Stale, either in the broad range of their course of 
study or in the ability and thoroughness of their instruct- 
ors; while the Michigan schools are justly celebrated the 
country over for their efficiency and progressive spirit. In 
nu other city in the State, perhaps, has there been so much accomplished in 
the way of offering opportunities (or the acquirement of an education which 
will meet tlie praclical needs of all classes of pupils, whatever their life 
avocation. 

These schools are organized, and have been for seventeen years, under 
a special act of the State Legislature making the whole city one district and 
placing their control in a Board of Education consisting of sixteen Trustees 
and the Mayor, the latter hoUiing office for one year. The trustees are 
chosen for two years — two from each of the eight wards — one from each 
ward being elected each year on the first Monday in September, thus keep- 
ing "politics," in the common acceptation of the term, from entering into 
the elections. Nine members of the board, a bare majority, are chosen each 
year, thus making the system exceedingly democratic and sensitive to popu- 
lar control, while the holdiiig over of eight of the seventeen members main- 
tains a conservative element which the experience of years has demonstrated 
ample to guard against too sudden or too radical innovations. The mem- 
bers of the board serve without pay, and the great public interest felt in 
educational matters is well demonstrated by the fact that school elections are 
often among the most holly contested in the city, although no questions but 
educational ones enter into them. The qualified voters at school elections 
include — first, all voters at ordinary elections (male citizens over 21 years of 
age); second, all citizens "having properly liable to taxation;" third, all 
parents who have children of school age (over 5 and under 20 years). Under 
these second and third clauses women vote quite generally, and are also 
eligible as Trustees; as yet, however, no woman has been chosen to this 
office, though several candidates have been put in nomination since the law 
making them eligible w-ent into effect in 1S85. 

The public schools are wholly free, no tuition being charged from the 
lowest department to the highest, except to pupils not residenls of the city. 
The last session of the Legislature, on petition of the School Board, so 
amended the law as to authorize the board to purchase text-books and all 
other school supplies and furnish the free use of them to pupils — such sup- 
plies, however, to remain the property of the board. The coming school 
year will doubtless see this new system introduced. 

PRIMARY AND GRAMMAR DEPARTMENTS. 

Tlie public school course includes twelve years — the first four in the 
primary schools, the second four in the grammar, and the last four in the 
high school department. 

Recognizing that the city is a great and rapidly growing manufacturing 
and industrial center, it has been the aim of the school authorities to adapt 
the course of study in all departments to the practical needs of such a popu- 
lation, wdiile at the same time affording the most liberal facilities for acquir- 
ing the higher education. The fact, however, that by far the larger number 
of pupils never reach the high school has caused the most earnest and per- 
sistent efforts to so organize and perfect the primary and grammar schools as 
to secure to the great body of pupils the best and most practical education 
possible, and with the most satisfactory results. At the New Orleans Expo- 



sition the Grand Rapids exhibit of primary and grammar work won the 
highest testimonials, not only from the best educational authorities of this 
country, but from those of foreign nations — and these departments are all the 
time steadily increasing in efficiency. Special teachers in penmanship, 
drawing and music superintend the work in these branches in all the grades, 
but it is in the primary and grammar departments the greatest good results 
from this special instruction. Music, as fully demonstrated by experience, 
not only exerts a great and beneficial moral influence, but, strengthening and 
softening the voice, it is also a most useful aid in making good readers; 
while drawing, educating eye and hand, lays a solid basis for the far readier 
.acquirement of any trade or avocation requiring mechanical skill — a most 
important matter in a manufacturing and industrial center, as it is the edu- 
cated eye and hand that marks the chief distinction between the skillful 
workman and the ''botch." In brief, the aim in the primary and grammar 
schools is to teach thoroughly the essential elements of a sound, practical 
education. 

HIGH-SCHOOL DEPARTMENT. 

The course of study in the high schools — like that in the primary and 
grammar departments — is arranged with special reference to the wants of 
students (by far the greater number) who complete their studies here, while 
at the same time there are courses specially adapted to those wishing to enter 
the University of Michigan or other first-class institutions of learning. 

There are five district high school diploma courses. Two consist 
wholly of English studies — the English Commercial course, including book- 
keeping (in place of the higher mathematics), science, history and English 
literature; and the Preparatory English, which differs from the other chiefly 
in giving more mathematics and thus fitting the graduate for the University. 
The Modern Language course includes German, French, science— is, in fact, 
largely elective. The modern languages begin with the first high-school 
year, being taught as living tongues, the aim being that the pupil shall be 
able to speak, read and write them readily as well as gain a knowdedge ol 
their grammar and literature. These three courses have been found to be 
specially suited to the practical needs of young men and women whose 
education ends in the high school. 

The Latin and Modern Language course fits students for the university 
with a view to the degree of bachelor of philosophy or of science. The 
Classical course is the usual one for bachelor of arts, and includes four years 
of Latin, two of Greek, and a full course of mathematics. Graduates of the 
high school in the preparatory courses are admitted on their diplomas to the 
University of Michigan without examination. 

Among the studies taught, not always included in high-school courses, 
are zoology, chemistry, geology, botany, astronomy and political economy. 
The natural sciences are studied by the laboratory or experimental method, 
and *ith specially satisfactory results. The Kent Scientific Museum, in the 
Central High-School building, is one of the richest collections in the State, 
its treasures being the accumulation of years of systematic work by the 
members of the Kent Scientific Institute. The Free Public School Library, 
also a part of the city's educational system, is likewise an invaluable aid to 
both teachers and pupils; but this institution will be described at more 
length under its appropriate title. 

THE NIGHT AND tINGRADED SCHOOLS. 

During the fall and winter months evening schools, for the benefit of 



26 



THE CITY OF GRAND RHPIDS. 



young men employed during the day (including foreign-born residents who 
wish to learn English), are conducted by experienced teachers. 

The Ungraded or Truant School has been in operation for several years, 
with most satisfactory results. Two classes of pupils attend this school — the 
chronic truants and other incorrigibles from the graded schools, and such ot 
the class forced into the schools by the truant officer (under the provisions of 
the compulsory school law) as are unfit, for any reason, to enter the graded 
schools. As soon as these ungraded school pupils show themselves fit in de- 
portment and studies they are transferred to the graded schools in their 
proper districts. As a means of preventing truancy in the graded schools, 
and reforming lawless pupils, the ungraded school has proved a most bene- 
ficial agency. 

.M.\NL'AL TRAI.NING SCHOOL. 

The proposition to establish a manual training department, in connec- 
tion with the public schools, has been (or some time under consideration, 
and a resolution to that end is now in the hands of a conmiittee. The idea 
is not to teach any particular trades, but to give theoretical and practical in- 
struction in the elementary principles underlying them all. 

PLKLIC SCHOOL Btll.DINGS AND PROPERTV. 

The city has twenty three public school l)uildings, with 8,958 sittings, 
and the estimated cr.sh value of the school property, as given by the ofticial 
report of the Board of Education (just issued) is $652,100. With the ex- 
ception of three buildings, coniaining in all twelve roonis, all these struc- 
tures are subsianiial brick edifices, and most of Ihcm architectural orna- 
ments that are a source of pride to citizens. The Central High School and 
the Union High School are the only three story buildings, the former con- 
taining nineteen and the latter eleven rooms. The Union is over a mile 
distant from the Centr.il, on the other side of the river, and the first three 
grades of the higii school course ha\e been introduced in this building dur- 
ing the last few years, the object being to make high-school opportunities 
easily accessible in all parts of the city. Besides the high-school buildings 
there are two 14 room buildings, two 12-room, one ll-room, one lo-room, 
one 9 room, four 8 room, two 7-room, three 6room, four 4-room and one 
2-room building. They are generally steam or furnace heated, and ventil- 
ated after the iriost approved methods. During the year 18S7 new buildings 
were added to accommodate some 700 pupils, and the outlook is for fully as 
great an increase for 1S88. For the last three years the new buildings have 
been erected by the board itself, under direction of its Building Committee 
and Superintendent of Construction, and with the most satisfactory results 
both as to quality of work and economy in expenditure. 

TI:ACHEKS AM) SALARIES. 

There are at present 212 teachers in the public schools, including the 
Superintendent, and the salaries for the school year ending Sept. I, 1887, 
when the number of teachers was 204, aggregated $96,975, the salary of the 
Superintendent being $2,500 and of the high-school principals $i,Soo and 
51,500 respectively. The salaries in the primary and grammar schools, 
both for principals and assisi.-.nts, have for the last half dozen years been 
fixed by standing rules based on position and experience. Principals receive 
$500 for the first room, with S25 for e.ich additional room in the building. 
Assistants in chr.rge of rooms receive maximum salaries as follows on enter- 
ing tlicir fifth year's ex;icrience in that capacity: Teachers of first and 
seventh grades, $550; second and sixth grades, inclusive, S500; eighth and 
ninth grades, S600. Cadets receive $200 for first year, S300 for second (if 
rem.aining so long a cadet j and on promotion to the charge of a room receive 
S350, which is increased by regular stages each year until the maximum of 
the grade is reached. Teachers from abroad receive such credit for experi- 
ence as the board's committee deems just, not to exceed full time for work in 
graded schools and half time for ungraded work. 

Three grades of teachers' certificates are provided, the third being the 
lowest, and in recommending teachers for appointment or promotion the 
rules require, other things being equal, decided preference to be given to 



teachers holding the highest grade certificate. The same salary is paid for 
the same work, in whatever position, be the teacher man or woman. 

THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDS. 
The public school moneys are derived: First, from the interest on the 
primary school moneys received by the State from the sale of the "school 
section" lands in each township, the city's share of which for the last school 
year was $14,495, o"" $i-03 foi" ^"<^h pupil of school age in the city, and 
Sl.8l for e.ach pupil enrolled in the schools. Second, the county and police 
court fines, which go chiefly to the library fund, and which amounted for 
the same year to $3,223. Third, the T-mill tax, provided for by the State 
law, which must be applied only to payment of salaries, and which should 
amount to some $20,000 annually, the assessed valuation for 1887 being 
$20,380,477. Fourth, the annual city school-tax budget voted by the Board 
of Education, ratified or amended by the Common Council, and collected 
with the general city, county and State taxes. The board has also power, 
on ratification by the Council, to issue bonds for building or other purposes. 

RAPID GROWTH OF THE SCHOOLS. 

Some statistics will best illustrate the rapid growth of the schools, as 
also the public spirit of citizens in providing accommodations for the rapidly 
swelhng school population. In 1878 the city had twelve school buildings, 
with a seating capacity of 4,029: now there are twenty-three school build- 
ings, with a seating capacity of 8,958. In 1878 the number of different 
pupils enrolled was 5,039; in 18S7 it was 8,539. " In 1878 the total number 
of teachers was 92; now the number is 212. It has been quite the uniform 
practice, in erecting new buildings, to raise the money for the buildings 
themselves on long time bonds, putting the cost of site and school furniture 
into the annual tax budget. The city has now outstanding S204,CX)0 school 
building bonds, covering a period up to 1907, every dollar of it issued since 
June I, 1878 — all except $24,000 7 per cents, bearing 4 and 5 per cent, in- 
terest. The official school annual for 1887, just issued, says: "Since 1879 
the board has expended $241,000 on ten new bitildings, besides doubling up 
several others." 

Up to Feb. 24, 1888, the total number of pupils enrolled in the schools 
was 8,580—618 more than had been enrolled up to Feb. 24, 18S7, and 41 
more than the total enrollment for the school year ending September, 18S7. 
It is estimated the total enrollment for the year ending September, 1888, 
will be fully 9,189, or an increase of 650 over 18S7. 

STATISTICAL, FINANCIAL AND OTHER MATTERS. 

The school population, according to the census of 18S6, was 12.775; '" 
1887 it was 14,006 — an increase of 1,291 for the year. Total enrollment of 
different pupils in 1S87, 8,539 — "" increase over 1886 of 271. Of this 
8,539 pupils, 630 were in the high school (about double the number in 1885), 
2,427 in the grammar, and 5,482 in the primary department. The number 
in high school over 16 years of age was 231; in the grammar, 63; in the 
primaries, 6 — a total of 300 pupils over 16. The number under 6 years in 
the primaries was 379. Total number of boys in schools, 4,249; girls, 
4,290. 

The rate of school taxation for the year 1SS6-7, including State i-mill 
tax, was 7 mills on the dollar. The assessed valuation of the city was S20,- 
380,477, being about one-half the actual cash valuation, making the actual 
rate of school taxation, for all purposes, only 3^ mills on the dollar. The 
total expenses of the Board of Education for 1886-7, for all purposes, was 
$183,344, of which $30,935 was for buildings, school sites, school furniture, 
grading and sewers and other permanent improvements. The school 
budget for 1SS6-7, exclusive of mill tax, $27,475 building bonds and $14,- 
495 primary school money, was $123,000; the budget estimates for the cur- 
rent year, 18S7-8, with the same exclusions, are $152,000; total estimated 
expenses for teachers salaries, $106,000; estimated per cent, of taxation for 
all school purposes, including State mill-t.tx, for 1887-8, 8>^ mills on the 
dollar assessed valuation, which is half the actual cash valuation. 

Average number of pupils to teacher in 1886-7, 34; number of men 
te.achers, 8; women teachers, 204; average cost per pupil for whole school. 







y. 










u 



•/■. 

y. 



■y; 



THE CITY OF GRHND RHPIDS. 



27 



$19.93; number non-resident pupils in 1887, 153; studying Latin, 22g; 
Greek, 10; German, 62; French, 32. 

The Superintendent of Schools, liis clerk, the teachers, superintendent 
of construction, librarian and assistants are all employed for one year only: 
the contracts are, however, usually renewed year after year. Since the con- 
solidation of the city schools under the present system, in 187 1, there have 
been only three school superintendents. 



PRIVATE SCHOOLS. 

The estimated number of pupils in the schools not public, as given by 
the public school authorities, is 1,788. These schools are: One Holland 
Refoniied Church Theological Seminary, one Holland Protestant School, 
three English Catholic Schools, one of high grade; one German Catholic, 
one Polish Catholic, two German Protestant schools and one Kindergarten. 
There are also three Business colleges, one school for mechanical drawing, 
one for free-hand and artistic drawing, modeling in clay, casting and wood- 
carving, two for oil and water-color painting, two vocal music schools, one 
for elocution, and one dancing school, besides private teachers of German, 
French, Spanish and other branches. These private schools are generally 
good, some being of high merit. 



PUBLIC LIBRARY. 



The "Public School Library of the City of t.irand Rapids," more popu- 
larly spoken of and commonly known as "The Grand Rapids Public Library," 



is under the control of the r5oar<l of Kducation as part of 'Mr srlionl system 
of the city. 

The library was organized in its present public character, with free cir- 
culation, in 1S71, and first opened with 4,000 volumes. Since that d.ite it 
has slowly but steadily grown in use and usefulness, and on the first day of 
Janu.iry, 188S, possessed, in its circulating department, 14,036 volumes; in 
its reference department, 1,542 volumes; and of United States and Slate 
documents, etc., 2,091 volumes. A total of 17,669 bound volumes (besides 
some pamphlets and other miscellaneous matter), for use and reference by 
the schools and public. 

The funds for its maintenance are derived in part from api)ro|)rialions 
by the Board of Education, $3,000 a year in the past two years, for expenses 
only, and in part from the application of crimin.il fines, as provided by 
State laws; the latter item, varying from $1,500 to $2,000 a year, being 
usually depended upon for the purchase of books and reading matter. 

Card holders registered in the present series, 5,220, less 255 canceled; 
leaving a b.alance of 4,965 in force, which is the nominal number entitled to 
use the library at the beginning of the year 1888. Under the present im- 
proved registration system each book-taker's canl has a life of two years 
from date of issue; at the expiration of which time it has to be renewed, to- 
gether with its surety signature. 

During the recent library year, ending Aug. 31, 1S87, the circulating 
department was open but 261 days; in which time 72,986 volumes were is- 
sued for home use. Daily average circulation, 2S0; largest daily delivery 
(Feb. 19, 1SS7), 702; smallest (June 8, 1887), 136; largest daily number in 
hands of readers (March 10, 1887), 2,522; smallest (July 19, 1SS7), 1,586. 



-®®®®- 



(Iuk'Ik^ .aflf I^ligioiis Iastiluli(Mis. 



TYie Prorqirierit Derionr|iriatioris Represented — fl.r\ Array of Haridsorr\e Edifices — Tl^e Nilrqber of 

Cliurc]^ iVLeiTibers. 




HURCH spires are a sort of inde.x to the moral character of 
the community. The membership of the churches indi- 
cates the religious inclinations of the people, while the 
character of the edifices indicate their generosity. In both 
these respects Grand Rapids makes a creditable showing. 
A STATISTICAL SHOWING. 
The following t.able shows the number of societies, the number of com- 
municants and the valuation of the church property of the difi'erent de- 
nominations: 



DENOMINATIONS, 

Baptist 

Children of Zion 

Congregational 

Disciples 

Episcopal 

Lutheran 

Methodist Episcopal 

Presbyterian 

Reformed 

Roman Catholic 

Univcrsalist 

.\11 other churches 

Total 



NO. OF 
CHfKCHES. 



COM.XU'NI- 
CANTS. 



827 
300 

151) 
8t)7 
725 

1.340 
615 

4..'itXI 

10.1100 

182 

525 



VAI.l'K OP 
PKOI'EKTV. 

$118,000 
lO.fKlO 

105.000 
12.000 

luy.2B0 
3;l.000 

112,500 
tKl.lKK) 

177.000 

227.700 
30.000 
37.000 



The "other churches" mentioned in the last item include 2 .\frican 
churches, I Unitarian, I Swedenborgian, 1 Free Methodist, I Independent 
German and i Hebrew society. 

This city is the residence of the Bishops of both the Episcopal and the 
Catholic churches of Western Michigan, and several churches of other de- 
nominations are among the largest in the Slate. 

OTHKR RKLIGIOIS INSTITfTUl.NS. 

Besides the church organizations proper, there are a number of oig.iniz- 
ations more or less directly connected with the churches and working in 
conjunction with them. The Young Men's Christian Association numbers 
450 members and is prosperous and constantly growing. 

Among the other religious institutions may be mentioned St. Mark's 
Home (Episcopal), which has properly valued at $62,000; ihe Catliolic 
Orphan Asylum, valued at $75,000; the Little Sisters of the Poor Home 
for the aged, the buildings of which, completed, will be worth $60,000; the 
Womens' Home and Hospital, under the auspices of the Womens' Christian 
Temperance Union, for taking temporary care of unfortunate women; a 
Holland Theological Seminary; a Holland Pro'.cstaiit school; two English 
CathoHc schools; one Gernian Cailicilic school; two German Protestant 
schools; one Roman Catholic school for men. 



20.931 $i.oai.«o 



mmAL ATTRA^eTKDNS. 



The Opportunities for Social and Intellectual Culture — Secret and Othier Societies. 




EW cities of the size of Grand Rapids can boast a more cos- 
mopolitan population. The wonderful growth of the city, 
its rapidly developed manufacturing and other industrial 
resources, and the highly enterprising spirit of its people, 
'=^:^l have gained for it a reputation hardly spanned by the 



boundaries of the country; and, as a result of this well earned fame, repre- 
sentatives of many different nationalities have found their way to the Valley 
City. The great mass of the population is, of course, of American birth. 
The earliest settlers of the valley were New Yorkers, followed rapidly by a 
strong New England element, and later by people from the bordering States, 
and in time by large numbers of the better cl.oss of foreigners. Fully two- 
thirds of the people are of American birth, and the large foreign element is 
as strongly American in spirit as the veriest Yankee. The Hollanders out- 
number all others of foreign descent in Grand Rapids. There aie nearly 
16,000 within the corporate limits. The German population numbers about 
7,000, and include many of the most prominent citizens of the community. 
There are also about 2.000 Scandinavians, 1,000 Polanders, and of all other 
foreign naiionaliiies perhaps 2,000. 

SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS. 
Prominent among the social features of the city are the two gentlemen's 
clubs, known as the Peninsular Club and the O-Wash-ta-Nong Boat Club. 
The former was organized in iSSi and now numbers in its membership 292 
of the foremost citizens of the place — men dis:inguished in business, social 
and profession.al circles. An elegant club house, costing, with the ground 
on which it stands, nearly $50,000, demonstrates the popularity and pros- 
perity of the organization. 

The O Wash-ta-Nong Boat Club was organized in 18S6 with a charter 
membciship of about twenty, and on Jan. I, 1SS8, had grown to niunber 
706 members, has built a boat house at Reed's Lake valued at $6,000, and 
has fitted up a downtown club house at an expense of $11,000. Both clubs 
are highly popular, not exorbitant in fees and dues, and foim a great factor in 
■he city's social life. The Grand Rapids Fencing Club, a recent organiza- 
■lion, has a membership of about fifty young men, and occupies fine club 
rooms in the Fourth Kational Bank Building. 

Kinnetous smaller clubs and societies, with widely varying aims and 
purposes, have sprung up from time to time in obedience to the increasing 
social demands of the city. Some of the most popular of these are in con- 
nection with church organizations, while others are made up entirely from 
people of single nationalities, who unite to build family club-houses or re- 
sorts. Pron.inent among such societies may be mentioned the Arbeiter 
Society (German) owning property valued at $20,000; the Turn Verein with 
S7,ooo worth of property; the Germania, owning a handsome hall erected 
iccently at a cost of $9,000; the Casino Association, owning the Casino 
l)uilding, worth 59,000. 

Among those of a miscellaneous character are the Piurns Club (Scotch), 
Catholic Young Men's Club, the Philadelphia (German), Swedish Society 
Norden, German Unterstuetzung Verein, Swedish W'orkingmen's Society, 
Old Settlers' Association, Holland Mutu.il Aid Society, and many others of 
less prominence, all exerting a salutary influence and constituting a part in 
the social life of Grand Rapids. 

LITERARY. 

Among organizations engaged in literary jiursuits the Ladies' Literary 
Club holds the first. place, both in number of members and in general pros- 



perity. This club, organized in 1870, now has a membership of about 31 
Within the year p.ist the club has built a beautiful club-house, the propei 
being valued at $15,000, and has furnished and equipped it in a most co: 
plete manner, making it a delightful resort for the enterprising ladies wh 
built it. 

The West Side Ladies' Literary Club is a younger organization, but in 
a flourishing condition and doing excellent work. 

Three Chautauqua circles are pursuing the course of study prescribed bv 
the large and flourishing educational society of which they are branches, all 
under competent leadership, and highly beneficial to their membere. 

The Fortnightly Club, made up of young people with literary, musical 
and histrionic tastes; the Monday Club, pursuing a high gr.ade of literary 
work, and the Irish-American Literary Society, are among the most promi- 
nent and active of such organizations now in existence in Grand Rapids. 

The Thalia and Alpha clubs are dramatic organizations and give fre- 
quent and successful exhibitions of amateur theatricals. 

ATHLETIC. 

The O- Wash-ta-Nong Boat Club takes the lead in athletics, fosters 
respectable sports, and in its finely appointed boat house and gymnasium 
has every athletic appliance to be conceived of. The regatta of the North- 
western Amateur Rowing Association has been held with this club at Reed's 
Lake for two successive years, and the association has voted to continue their 
regattas at the same place for the next three years. 

The Grand Rapids Driving Park Association furnishes lovers of horse 
flesh with fine racing meetings annually. 

The Grand Rapids Cricket Club was organized in 1SS7 and has an en- 
thusiastic membership of over fifty devotees of the English sport, and is 
rapidly becoming one of the popular athletic institutions of the city. 

The Kent County Sportsmans' Club is highly prosperous, attractive to 
lovers of the rod and gun, and numbers in its membership many of the most 
prominent citizens of the community. 

SCIENTIFIC. 

The Kent Scientific Institute, an ancient and honorable organization, 
dates from 1865, being a creature of the High School, and has had a suc- 
cessful career. The Institute has an energetic and progressive membership, 
and has acquired a fine Museum of Natural History and Arch.ieolog}-. The 
meetings are largely attended and are a valuable aid in scientific studies, and 
in many ways the org.anization is a credit to the city that has always en- 
couraged and fostered it. 

There are also sever.al informal organizations engaged in microscopical, 
botanical and other scientific investigations. 

SECRET AND BENEVOLENT. 

Nearly all the large secret societies are represented in Grand Rapids by 
numerous lodges and other subordinate bodies, and for the most part are 
well sustained. The Masonic order has three subordinate or Blue lodges, a 
Chapter of the Royal Arch, Comm.andery of Knights Templar, organizations 
of the Scottish Rite, 3 Temple of the Mystic Shrine, and a Chapter of the 
Eastern Star. The Odd Fellows have four subordinate lodges, an Encamp- 
ment and a Canton of Patriarchs Militant, also a lodge of the Rebek.ih 
degree. There are two Knights of Pythias lodges and a Division of the 



THE CITY OF GRAND RHPIDS. 



29 



Uniloimed Rank of the same order. One lodge of the ElUs, two lodges of 
the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and a legion of Select Knights 
A. O. U. W., one lodge of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, three Posts of 
the G. A. R., one lodge of IS'nai B'rith, four lodges of Red Men, two oT 
Knights of Honor, three of Knights of the Maccabees, four of the order of 
Chosen Friends, four of Royal Templars of Temperance, two of the Royal 
Arcanum, one of the Royal Adelphia, one Temple oi the Patriarchal Circle, 
a lodge of Heptasophs, or Seven Wise Men, a lodge of Knights of the 
Golden Eagle, a camp of Sons of Veterans, two branches of the Womans' 
Relief Corps, four lodges of Good Templars, one each of the Iron Hall, of 
the National Union, Order of Railroad Conductors, and of the Brotherhood 
of Locomotive Engineers. There are several assemblies of the Knights of 
Labor. 

Among benevolent societies, not secret in their nature, may be enumer- 
ated the Women's Chrislian Temperance Union, with eight branches, 
the Young Women's C.irislian Temperance Union, the Catholic Mutual 
Benevolent Association, Plebrew Ladies' Benevolent Association, Dania 
Aid Society, Police Relief and Benefit Association, Firemen's Benefit 
Society, Masonic Mutual Benefit Association, Masonic Home Association, 
and a number of beneficial societies organized among employes of the vari- 
ous factories. In nearly all of these organiz.ations insurance is furnished on 
the assessment plan, and sick benefits and other advantages accrue to those 
uniting with them. Nejirly all have fine lodge rooms, and the various pub- 
lic and private entertainments given by them from time to time are sources 
of pleasure and profit to members and their friends. 

FAIRS. 

The Kent County Agricultural Society owns large grounds directly 
south of the city with handsome and commodious buildings, a fine race 
track and all the appurtenances of a well conducted Fair Ground. For the 
past ten years or more an annual fair has been held at this place, under the 
auspices of the West Michigan Agricultural and Industrial Association, in con- 
junction with the Grand River Valley Horticultural Society. These fairs 



have been highly successful, drawing fine exhibits in all lines from Western 
and Northern Michigan, and being especially rich in the display of indus- 
trial products from the City of Grand Rapids. The attendance usually ex- 
ceeds that at the State Fair, and in number and quality of exhibits, the 
superiority is marked. A pennanent exhibition will, in the near future, be 
the outgrowth of these popular exhibitions of the industrial and agricultural 
wealth of Western Michigan. 

MUSICAL. 

The St. Cecilia Society, Schubert Club, Maas Choral Society, Oratorio 
Society, Harmonie and Germania Singing Societies, are the principal ama- 
teur musical societies in Grand Rapids. Ihcy are popular, composed of en- 
thusiastic musicians, and their fraquent entertainments are events of no little 
importance to the music-loving portion of the community. 

MILITARY. 

Grand Rapids has just reason to be proud of the three military compa- 
nies that live and prosper within her boundaries. They are, respectively, the 
Grand Rapids Guards, Custer Guards, and Innes Rifles. They are con- 
nected with the State troops and are known as Companies B, I and K, of 
the Second Regiment. All are provided with excellently equipped armories 
and entertain their friends with frequent social gatherings. They are pro- 
ficient in drill, well officered and made up of young and enthusiastic 
men. The Brigadier General commanding the State troops and several staflF 
and line officers reside in Grand Rapids. 

In all the various lines of amusement, recreation, culture and education 
referred to herein Grand Rapids offers exceptional advantages. There is 
something to cater to every worthy taste and to stimulate every laudable 
ambition, and in the widely varying modes of relaxation suggested by the 
many organizations named people of all occupations can find congenial com- 
panionship and renewed vigor for their daily labors. Thus all tend to the 
common result, the development of the vast industrial resources of the Grand 
River valley. 



LIST OF MEMBERS. 



Ainsworlh, C. 
Allen, E. C. 
Ambeig, D. M. 
Anderson, W. H. 
Antisdel, A. R. 
Arnott, Geo. 
Aspinwall, S. F. 
Atwater, A. B. 
Austin, L. H. 
Baars, J. Frederick. 
Baker, H. P. 
Ball, Fred. H. 
]!aldie John W. 
Ball, Orson A. 
Ball, Frank W. 
Ball, S. S. 
Barnard, E. M. 
Barnhart, Franklin. 
Barnhart, Willard. 
Barlow, Jno. B. 
Barth, Jacob. 
Bates, Slarcus W. 
Baxter, Alfred. 
Behnke, G. H. 
Belknap, C. E. 
Benjamin, Leonard. 
Benjamin, John. 
Bennett, S. P. 
Berkev, C. H. 
Bertsc'h, C. 
Bevier, A. 
Bissell, M. R. 
Black, C. W. 
Blair, James. 
Blickley, C. 
Bonnell, J. C. 
Botsfoid, Jas. E. 
Brown, O. E. 
Bowne, A. J. 
Brezee, Floyd. 
Briggs, Geo. G. 
Brown, F. E. 
Browne, \V. H. 
Brown, Alfred J. 
Broad, Alfred. 
Brooks, A. E. 
Bulklev, W. F. 
Burch.'M. C. 
Burtch, M. T. 
Buss, Geo. F. 
Bunting, Charles C. 
Cartwright, William. 
Gary, L. M. 
Cheney, Z. V. 
Chickering, Frank. 
Church, M. B. 
Clark, Fred. S. 
Clark, Fred. B. 
Clark, N. B. 
Clay, D. P. 
Cody, Darwin D. 
Compton, Wni. R. 
Cook, Percy T. 
Corson, R. W. 
Covode, John A. 
Cox, Wni. E. 
Coye, Charles A. 
Creque, J. P. 
Crippen, A. A. 
Crockett, S. L. 
Crosby, Moreaii S. 
(."urliss, John L. 
Davidson, A. Judd. 
Davidson, G. H. 
D.avis, Geo. A. 
1 )avis, Geo. N. 
Denison, \Vm. C. 
Dettenthaler, F. J. 
Dewey, \V. C. 
Dickinson, Heni-y R. 
Dikeman, E. B. 
Donnally, E. H. 
Doran, Peter. 
Dosker, Cornelius. 
Dregge, John. 
Drueke, W'm. 
Dunham, Wm. 
Dunton, Geo. B. 
Dunton, T<'hn C. 
Dunton, L. G. 



Durfee, Allen. 
Pykema, K. 
Earle, Wm. S. 
Eaton, Charles W. 
Eaton, James A. 
Emery, W. S. 
Fairman, F. 
F.alkel, A. 
Ferris J. T. 
Fisher, E. B. 
Fisher, O. D. 
FitzGerald, Gerald. 
Follmer, C. Carroll. 
Ford, Edwin P. 
Forrest, George. 
Foote, E. H. 
Fox, Charles. 
Fox, E. Crofton. 
Fox, J. W. 
Fox, P. V. 
Fralick, Henry. 
Friedrich, Julius A. J. 
Freeman, W. L. 
Fuller, Ph. C. 
Fuller, Sam'l L. 
Gay, Geo. W. 
Gelock, Wm. 
Gill, C. E. 
Giftord, Geo. P. 
Gilbert, Thos. D. 
Goebel, H. M. 
Goebel, John. 
Goodri'h, Chas. M. 
Grady, H. B. 
Grinnell, Henry. 
Gunn, W. A. 
Gunn, W. S. 
Hall, Geo. A. 
Hamilton, E. A. 
Harris, L. D. 
Hanish, A. 
Harrison, Wm. 
Hastings, H. F. 
Hatch, I. C. 
Hawkins, L. E. 
Hazeltine, C. S. 
Heald, Joseph. 
Heath, L. W. 
Herkner, Tos. C. 
Herrick, Wm. H. 
Herpolsheimer, W. G. 
Hess, Wm. T. 
Hester, Myron. 
Heyman, M. 
Heystek, Henry J. 
Hodenpyl, A. G. 
HoUistei , Harvey J. 
Hoops, Wm. H. 
Horner, Jos. 
Horton, A. C. 
Horton, E. J. 
Houseman, Maurice M. 
Houseman, Jos. 
Houseman, Julius. 
Hovey, Wm. G. 
Huelster, W. W. 
Hugenholtz, Paul Th. 
Hughart, W. O. 
Hunt, Louis E. 
Hunt, Jas. A. 
Idema Henry. 
Ives, Calvin L 
Ives, Henry. 
Jamieson, John. 
Jenks, S. B. 
Jennings, C. W. 
Jewell, Frank. 
Jewett, John H. 
Johnson, Guy H. 
Johnson, N. B. 
Jones, Eugene W. 
Jones, Wm. H. 
Judd, Charles B. 
Judd, E. E. 
Keate, E. J. 
Kennedy, Alex. 
Kenning, Jno. E. 
Kidder, E. P. 
Killean, Jno. E. 



Kleindienst, F. W. 
Knowlson, A. B. 
Kortlander, Wm. O. 
Kotvis, John. 
Kusterer, Chas. F. 
Kusterer, Philip. 
Lacey, J. D. 
Lamb, F. J. 
Lamos, H. A. 
Lamoreaux, W. T. 
Leathers, Don J. 
Lee, Edwin A. 
Ledyard, H. T. 
Leitelt, Adolph. 
Lemon, S. M. 
Leonard, Chas. H. 
Letellier, Francis. 
Levi, I. C. 
Lewis, E. P. 
Lewis, G. B. 
Loettgert, Fred. 
Long, Harry W. 
Loomis, C. M. 
Lowe, Roland. 
Luton, A. E. 
Lyon, Chas. D. 
Lyon, Samuel. 
Lynch, Daniel. 
MacBride, J. G. 
Main, John. 
Mason, Adolph. 
Matter, Elias. 
May, A. 

Meech, Charles C. 
Meigs, Arthur. 
Merrill, Rob't W. 
Miller, Frederick C. 
Mills, Fred D. 
Miner, J. 
Mohl, Ed. E. 
Mohrhard, John. 
Moore, H. N. 
Morgan, C. B. 
Morman, S. A. 
Morton, C. 
Moseley, E. A. 
Moseley, T. F. 
Mowat, John. 
Musselman, Amos S. 
McCallum, P. 
McCoy, Daniel. 
McGrau, Frank. 
Mclntyre, John. 
McKee, J. C. 
McQuewan, Chas. 
McWhorter, Chas. 
Nelson, Geo. K. 
Noble, F. L. 
Norris, Chas. H. 
Olney, Chas. E. 
O'Brien, T. J. 
Orr, Rob't. 
Osterhout, Smith W. 
Pantlind, A. V. 
P.antlind, J. Boyd. 
Peck, Thos. N. 
Peirce, Geo. C. 
Peregrine, S. W. 
Penny, Joseph. 
Perkins, Chas. H. 
Perkins, G. W. 
Perkins, Henry. 
Perkins, W. J. 
Perry, Geo. R. 
Perry, Thos. R. 
Philbrick, Chas. C. 
Phillips, J. T. 
Pierce, E. S. 
Porter, A. B. 
Powers, Wm. T. 
Preusser, A. 
Pugh, Jas. A. 
Pugh, W. D. 
Pulte, F. E. 
Putman, Enos. 
Putnam, B. W. 
Quigley, C. B. 
Quimby, Geo. I. 
Rademaker, J. 



Raiguel, W. H. 
Randall, Milo G. 
Raniville, Felix. 
Reed, Charles J. 
Ree\e, Geo. B. 
Remington, W. B. 
Reynolds, H. M. 
Richards, Theo. F. 
Richmond, A. B. 
Rindge, L. J. 
Robinson, Wm. M. 
Rood, Chas. F. 
Rosenth.al, J. W. 
Rowe, Wm. N. 
Rowson, John. 
Russell, Henry C. 
Rutherford, D. M. 
Schroeffel, Philip J. 
Schultz, Theo. 
Scribner, W. R. 
Sears, Samuel. 
Scars, William. 
Sehler, John. 
Shanahan, M. 
Shelby, W. R 
Shields, John G. 
Shriver, F., Sr. 
Simmons, Wm. T. 
Skinner, A. L. 
Skinner, Chas. O. 
Sligh, Chas. R. 
Smith, Walter A. 
Smith Wm. Alden. 
Snitseler, John. 
Spaulding, C. D. 
Spooner, J. W. 
Spring, Henry. 
Slanton, L. B. 
Steketee, Geo. G. 
Steketee, Peter P. 
Stevens, Sidney F. 
Stowe, E. A. 
Stow, L. C. 
Strahan, Jno. Q. 
Strahan, Jno. T. 
Stratton, F. C. 
Stuart, W. J. 
Studley, E. G. 
Swartout, R. D. 
Swartz, S. P. 
Swensberg, C. G. 
Talford, W. D. 
Tateum, Wm. A. 
Teller, Edward. 
Thomas, J. H. 
Thum, Wm. 
Thwing, Z. C. 
Tower, Itan'l W. 
Tuttle, T. Emery. 
Udell, C. S. 
Van Asmus, H. D. C. 
Vedders, H. A. 
Verdier, J. A. S. 
Wagner, G. N. 
Wallin, F. B. 
Walker, E. E. 
Ward, Oren A. 
Ware, Jas. B. 
Watkins, C. W. 
Waters, D. H. 
W'atson, A. B. 
Weatherly, Warren C. 
Weston, I. M. 
Wetzell, D. M. 
White, Arthur S. 
White, John B. 
Whitlock, E. D. 
Widdicomb, H. 
Widdicomb, Jno. 
Widdicomb, Wm. 
Wilmarth, L. T. 
Winegar, Wm. 
Winlernitz, Lud. 
Withey, Lewis A. 
Wolcott, Robt. N. 
Wondcrly, J. II. 
Worden, A. E. 
Wykes, James II. 
Wykes, Thos. E. 



e:- 




JULIUS BERKEY, President. 
G. W. GAY, Treasurer. 

JOHN A. COVODE, Sec. 



-® 



® 



in 



. (Xai ^ 



Wjole^ale Wjanafactui'ei'^. 



^o^' ' ' i ^'^'Q 



v^ 



.^Al 



VUvi^e ($0.4 



* 






n's 



GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, i 




■pilTlNCi iRfwirtl^ Au.1 ' -^/Z. 



^"^^^^^IDEtiOAI^U-rie 122- 
=^^— J DINING TabLC-Mo-^S' 



EASTERN WAREROOMS: 



17 Eli^abctl? St., -H4 N'-^w York (^itV, 



PAMPHLET OF DESIGNS SENT ON APPLICATION. 



^©RIEL CABINET e(!)MMNY4 



MANUFACTURERS OF 



ANGY PtiRmTrnt 




415 TO 435 GANAL ST., 



GRANB RAPIDS, MIGH, 



C. W. BLACK, General Manager, 




• mM^ ^DS.l|cH 



® 



J 



r 



\^icl(licomb i furniture 



ffi 
■^ 



"^^mpan^ 



u 



?) 



^ 



_^*^'' 




Cham^ber •;• Suites, 

Bed-B, Chiffoniers, 



^ Pop tl2e ipade Ocl^. 



Tables, Etc., 



IN OUfiRTERED OflK, flSH, BIRCH AND MflPLE, 



4^(5rancl Rapids, ]^k\}.4^ 



BiSSELL-:- GaRPET •••• SVEEPER ■■■ G< 

>^]^anufacturer8 of (^arpet gupcepers (t)nl\^4 



*i 



TYxe Bissell Brands of S'Weepers are 
Kno"^ri i^nd sold in every civilized 
coiiritry in ti^e -world. 

Reeo^Rizesl keadcr^ ii2 tl^i^ Isine of 
Qls^nuf achiPe. 

Oiir goods are standard and made under 
thirty difPerent brands in styles and at 
jsrices to meet the wants of any purchaser. 





Tt)e Largest and Only Exclusive 
rnan^facttirers of Carpet S-Weepers 
in ti|e ■world. 

Of>epaUn^ [JoGlep mope tijan Fifty 
cPatcrst^. 

AVe own and control the celebrated Broom 
Action used in our Sweeper, without which 
no sweeper can be made to adjust itself to 
any carpet ; also numerous other valuable 
devices on Carpet Sweepers. 



GENERAL OFFICE AND FACTORY 

22 MILL STREET, 

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN. 



7 EASTERN BRANCH and EXPORT OFFICE! 

103 CHAMBERS STREET, 
NEW YORK. 




J. H. WONDERLY, President 



J. P. CREQUE, Vice pres l manageh. 



R. N. WOLCOTT, Sec. i treas. 



Kent Furniture H^anufacturing (Co. 



IMOS. 674 TO 700 NORTH FRONT STREET. 

,iiiiiiiiii|'lli™illllillllilllllllil|l|lilllllilllll!!1lfll!li!ltlllli:!!l^ 




SyiiWiiiiit'iiiiillliliiia'iiilinlHIilll^^^^^^^^ ' ■"■|'''^!ii:'''!iilliiiliiiii!iliiilillllllllllil 

WHOLF.S.M.E U\- iTRERS OF 



Low and medium priced Chamber Suites, Wardrobes, Chiffoniers, Side- 
boards, Bookcases and Tables. 



Write for Catalogue. 



M CLiSeR. MATTER & G2. 

-1- » l©0 9®®a®®?'®®@fflmatBS)® 



■^^pp' 



®®©®S9®® 



0^anufactiui'E['^ of ^urqitoe 



* * * * * 



RAND RAPIBS. niGH. 




Chicaoo Office, 

267 WHBflSH flVE. 



J. W. WHEELOgK, Manager. 



New V()rl< Office, 

5 E. 19th street 




KNAPP & STODDARD, Managers. 



Uri^i^^erseil Tripod Company 



MAN'UFACTURERS OV THE 



UNIVERSAL•^TRIPOD•^COAT•^RACK 

f^ Useful in Parlor, Bedroorri aqd Hall. Not only useful but graces then-^ ^ ^ 
all. We also manufacture iq additioq to tfie above a fiqe liqe of ^"^ 




III 



Wood Top Tables, 
Plush Top Tables, 
Shaving Stands, 
Dressing Cases. 

Hi 



UNIVERSAL TRI POD CO AT RACK. 




III 



Fancy Beds, 
Child's Beds, 
Towel Racks, 
Easels, Etc. 
Ill 



PATENTED 1888. 



UNIVERSAL TRIPOD CO., 

168 to ir4 @nai $^t. ^Q,mM Rapifls, Mi'^l?- 



H. C. RUSSELL, President. 



L. H. HITSTIN, Sec. 5 Treas. 



grand ^V^^^'^^s ^„^^^* 



31 S 33 HURON ST 



'*5u/; 



^"'""--s «5J WljoUsak BcaUrs ^9 «^^ ^^''' 



,As 



A 



Mattresses anb Bed Springs 

CURLED HAIR, WOOL. HUSKS, FEATHERS, EXCELSIOR, ETC. 

Ours is the only mattress Uciory in the l.ind using only new sattinet clips shoddy in our wool mattresses, and consequently they may be depended upon to be clean and sweet 

We make a ^pcLioJty of furnishing hotels and boats with hair auJ OLhcr mattresses 



^ 




* 



The above cut represents our DAIHY SPltrXG, which combines the principles of the spiral and the t^-OX'en \rire springs. This combination leaves it without an 
objection, which can be said of no other bed spring yet invented. The spiral spring is admitted to be the correct principle for a bed spring, hut is objectionable in that it does 
not furnish a proper surface for the support of the mattress, causing it, of whatever material, to bunch up. The woven wire fabric with which we cover the I>A1KV 
overi-omcs this ol-jiMtinn, increases the el.isticity of the spring and, in fact, makes it perfect in every particular. It has only to be seen to be appreciated by the intelligent 
pubhc, and wherever it is shown proves to be a good seller, ships three to the loo lbs. and is scheduled second class. 

We would like very much to receive your order for a sample lot, if for only one, feeling confident that it will result iu opening up a trade which will be of mutual benefit. 



MARTIN MIDDLINGS PURIFIER CO, 



-SOLE MANUFACTUEEES OF J. B. KABTIN'S PATZNT- 



\1/ 

7\\ 



Middlings Purifier and Eliminating Flour Dresser. 







III 



Martin's Middlings Purifier 

WILL PURIFY 

AVithout waste in tlio dust room, the tinest 
soft middlings from the tails of centrifugals. 

Sharp returns from bolts. 

Stock which can not be handled on any other 
make of I'uriliers without waste. 

It is a perfect Grader and rurili(>r of Mid- 
dlings, from the liuest soft middlings to the 
coarsest germ, which it thoroughly aspirates. 



Eliminating Flour Dressing Machine 

THE SIMPLEST AND MOST PERFECT FLOUR 
DRESSER IN TriE WORLD. 

UTILIZES ITS ENTIRE CLOTH SURFACE WITH- 
OUT DEFLECTION O.^ STOCK 
SEND FOR TESTIMONIALS AND CATALOGUE. 



Ill 



(ira^d f^apids, /Tlielj. 



M 



ICHIGAN 






IRON WORKS 



Vn. T. POWERS r^ 

^ S.S0N 



RAND RAPIDS, 






MICHIGAN. 



i^ 







M.iNrF.\CTL'Rr.KS Ol- 



DENSMORE'S PATENT ROTARY VENEER CUTTING MACHINE 

For Culling Vciieers frcmi .imiiiul llie lug, for Furnilure, l-'ruit rack.iges. Cheese ISoxcs, Ilarrel Sl.ivcs, Hoops, Orange Boxes, ele., etc. Machines are very 
heavy, ami made in various sizes to cut logs from i-nv to /<■« feet long. All kinds of Machine and Foundry Work to order. Steam Engines, 

Boilers, Shafting, Pulleys, Gearing and Saw Mill M.ichinery. 



Office and Work:«, 



Koot of I^oiiis; Street 



grand i Rapids i Refrigerator i (^o.. 



SOLE MflNUFfiCTURERS OF 



The 



ail- 



Leonard Gleanable 



-=® 



=^ BEST GN EARTH. ®^ 

MADE IN HARD WOOD ONLY. 

RICH ANTIQUE FINISH. 

Elegantly Carved and Orr|an\erited 

REAL BRONZE TRIMMINGS. 

TI}e Leonard Air Tigl]t Locks. 

Tlje Leonard Mova ble Flties. 

TY\e Leonard Solid Iror] Slielves. 

Five Walls to Preserve t l-|e Ice. 

WARRANTED NOT TO S WEAT 

KEEP ICE LON GER A N D FOO D 

BETTER THAN ANY OTHER 




DrfiJ Air< Refrigerator 

m 111= 



^ PRICES L0W. ®= 

Great Variety Manufactured. 
Porcelain Lined Water Coolers. 



XXX TIN MILK COOLERS. 

Our Special Features can riot be 

Obtained in any otiier Refrigerator. 

For Sale by tlie Trade Generally. 

CONSUMERS SUPPLIED WHERE 

WE HAVE NO AGENTS. 



SEND FOR CATALOGUE. 



ADDRESS AS ABOVE. 



Grand P^apids, Michigan. 



Grrand F^apids Scl^ool FuirnituLre Compar^y 

MANUFACTURERS OF 

^chool, Ctiui^ch, Banl^ and Opei^a Houge Furini^hingg. 




Chairs have Hat, Coat or Shawl, Umbrella Racks, Foot Rests and Book Holders. 
OVER THIRTY STYLES, PLAIN. OR UPHOLSTERED, 
rjcl for our rjew illu:;tratod Catalogues of Opera House rqd Hall Seatings, 



She "^bi^pbgt Puvomatig" Sghool Desi^'' 

TH- 0NL7 PEACTICAL SELF FOL^INS SEAT DESE IM THE T70SLI). 



i^K 



•-♦h 



GLOBES and APPARATUS, 

CHURCH PEWS, 

BANK COUNTERS, 

COURT HOUSE 

FURNITURE, 

RAILROAD SETTEES 




C. G. A. VOIG7^ ^ CO., 

PROPRIETORS 

->gtar I Roller* Mi'ls.-^ 



C^PACITV, :}oO BA.HKE1.B. 



® l§l— -® 



JVIanufacturers of the following Brands of piour < 



OUR PATENT. CflLLA LILY, "STAR 
GOLDEN SHEAF. OUR FANCY, 
WHITE PRINCE. GRAHAM. 



DEALERS IN 



RYE FLOUR, BUCKWHEAT FLOUR, 

GRANULATED MEAL, BOLTED MEAL, 

BRAN, SHIP, MIDDLINGS, 

SCREENINGS. 



-® 



-«*- 



TEbEPHONE N9. 337. 



Grand Rapids, Mich. 



t 



t 



® 



Bi^iss Machii^e 'yiTorkis 



® 




s^ 



BRANCH SALESROOM, 48 S. CANAL ST., CHICAGO. 



/mx 



i^ 




M. L. SWEET, 



WHOLKS^LE: manufacturer of medium and LOW-PRICED 



* * 



BEDSTEADS 



* * 



HOTEL SUITES, COMMODES, ETC. 



FAETORY AND SALESROOMS. Cor. of Prescott aud Ionia Its. 



OFFICES AT FAETORY acd 23 Pearl Street (Sweet's Hotel Block). 



GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN. 



tme: leading manufactuf^ers 



OK 



pine ,0 Medium Jurniture 



FROM THE LATEST DESIGNS, IN ALL WOODS. 



'PH0CRIX> 



Grand • Rapibs, • Aighisan. 



Chamber Suits, Dining Room Suits, Book Cases, Wardrobes, 
Hall Stands, Parlor Secretaries, Etc, Etc. 

't^e FLir^ni^!7in^ of Vp\A^ '^\i^ou^m\. a Specialty 



SOLE OWNERS HND MHNUFflCTURERS OF 



THE "PHCZNIX FOLDING BED." 



Per\ir\sialar Ktirnittire Company 



iiiiiiuiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiniuiiniiiiiiiuiiiiiiuiiii 
oooooooooooo 

BEDROOM SETS 

BEDSTEADS 

BUREAUS 

LOUNGES 

FOLDING TABLES 



oooooooooooo 
miiunuuumuiminniiniimnnmmniinuimimn 




iiniiiiuuittiiiiuiiuiuuiiiuiiniiniiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiuui 
oooooooooooo 



FHCTORY 

Comer Canal and Fairbanks Streets. 

WAREHOUSE 

Comer Kent and Newberry Sts. 

OFFICE S SALESROOM 

Cor. Ottawa and Fairbanks Sts. 

ERAND RAPIDS, HIEH. 



oooooooooooo 
iimiuiiiiiiinuiiiiMiiniHitiiiiiimiiiiitiiiuiiiiiimui 




H. RABEnAKER S. SONS, 

WHOLESALE MANUFACTURERS 

Ba^e Ball Bal;^, Croquet ^et^, Indiai] Glub^, Etc., Etc., 

GRANB • RAPIBS, • MICHIGAN. 



®~ 




-o 



M. C. BURCH, Pkes't. 



B. DeGRAFF. Jr.. Vice Pres't. 



J. P. FIXEGAX. Sec. am. Treas. 



Make a Specialty of Fine and Medium Carved and T^uisl-worl; 



Genter< Tabled and ^tand^ 




OAK, MAHOGANY, CHERRY AND WAL.NfT FINISH. 



Catalogues, etc., to the Trade only. 
OFFICE AND FACTORY 286 & 288 CANAL ST. 

Grand Rapids, Mich. 



grand Rapid^ ^ Indiana Railroad. 



* 



« « » » f: * 



(MRCKINflC AND CINCINNATI SHORT LINE.) 






* 



TO THE DELiGHTFUL 



^SafflfflER ReseRTs eF Northern Aighigan> 




AND THE CELEBRATED 

GRAYLING AND TROUT STREAMS, 

BEAUTIFUL LAKES, 

AND 

«HyNriNG © sReyNDs* 

Of tl^is Farrioiis Coiiritry. 



No rriore p leasant sp ots to spend 
one's siininiei" or* vacation can be 
found ttian 
TRAVERSE CITY, 

PETOSKEY, 

MACKINAC, 

and oth[er resorts in t^i eir irninediate 
vicinity. 



Tiie Scenery of tlie Nortt) Woods 
and ]!.al\es is very beautiful. Tt|e 
air is pure, dry and bracing. Tt^e 
clirqate is peculiarly beneficial to 
tlriose suffering "Witl^ Hay Fever and 
fistlirnatic affections, 

Ne-W Hotels "Wit?) all rnodern inq- 
proveinents lr\ave been erected, and 
extensive additions inade to otl^ers, 
guaranteeing ainple acconnrnoda- 
tions for all. 



The (Jraqd I^apid^ \ Indiaqa \ \ 

with its mar|y corjqectioris forir|s a direct 
route betweer^ all poiiits iq the Soutl^, South|- 
east and Southwest, aqd poiqts iq the West- 
erq aqd Northern portions and Upper 
Peqinsula of Michiqan. 

Woodruff Sleepiqg Car s aqd Parlor Chaif 
Cars oq all througf) traiqs. 



For descriptive matter and full informa- 
tion, address 

O. Xj. XjOCir"^77-OOX), 
W. O. HUGHART, Ses. Fass. i Tiiket Agi, 

Fres. It Sea. llanager. 
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. 



THE ALDINE FIRE PbAGEJ' 



A SANITARY SAFESUARD— AN EKONOMIML HEATER. 



The AIjI>UIIK in ronNtructed on Mcieiitilic prinripIeN; It «(|"i^l- 
ixeti the teuii»eratar<> and produeeH warm Moors. 




Unlike any other grate, it has 
a rclurn draught. This insures 
sUiw and perfect combus'.ioii of 
fuel, economy, perfect ventdalii-.i 
and distrilnuion of heat. The 
ALDINE is the only grate that 
can be piped to common chimneys 
wilh as gcHid results as if aspeciul 
chimney was provided. It can 
be set and operated with less than 
one-half the expense and fuel re 
quired by any other grate. 



Send for Illustrated Circular Caving Full luformation. 



Address, 



^Idiiic JvI^iiiui'cK-tiinno (^o., 

GRHND RHPIDS, MICH. 



(^rand j^ipids 



e • 



Purniture (^o, 



MA\Ti\ciri',i: i\i'i,i' ivn,v 



J^edstcacls *. 



J. C. MORE, 



L. C. STOW, 

Scc'y and Tres- 



>t' 



ALABASTINE CO 



SOLE BANUFACTCREES OF 



^labastine. 

Also iVLariiifactures of 

Laud and felcined Plastar and ^krcb's Bug Firasb 



Alabastine is a permanent wall coating that hardens on the 
wall with age, and every coat added from time to time im- 
proves the wall instead of softening and scaling off, as all Kal- 
somine mixtures (inert powders held with glue) do. There is 
no article similar to Alabastine except Anti-Kalsomine, which 
is licensed tinder our patents but is not the same. This ex- 
planation is made, as some compounds not even similar claim 
to be the same as Alabastine. 

Alabastine is not an experiment, but has been on the market 
for the ])ast nine years to test its merits, in addition to some 
years of previous trial by the inventor to perfect it before 
placing it on sale. It is of that nature that time only would 
test the utility of each experiment, to arrive at the exact pro- 
portions, etc., to produce a wall coating that would harden 
with age and admit of recoating from time to time without 
scaling or softening, as all Kalsomine mixtures do. 

ALABASTINE GO. 



Si:\ti-£cil^oii\ii\e do. 

Me Manufacturers of 

flNTI-KflLSOMlNE 

AND 

© E:. Q. varnish PRESBI'lVER © 



Anti-Kalsomine is a permanent coating for walls and ceilings 
that a<lmits of apj^l) ing coat after coat, from time to time, 
without scaling or rubl)ing off; also the best priming for brick 
or wood buildings. All Kalsomincs are known to be tempor- 
ary, and that, like wall-paper, they should be removed before 
recoating. Anti-Kalsomine saves all this exjjense, being as 
])ermancnt and similar in nature to the original finishing coat 
of |)!aster. Has been long tried, and furnishes the best of 
testimonials. 



V E. Q. VARNISH PRESERVER •:• 



Adapted to and licensed for Church's Patent Oil Surfacing 
Process, that produces the finest carriage surface in one d.iy 
fiom the wood, ready for color and varnish. This surface has 
been thoroughly tested on running carriages more than two 
years, and has proven more durable than any surface made 
with paint. The best of references given. Is also the best 
fdlcr for producing a well-fdled, natural wood finish. 



j^r2hi-+^al<jomir2C Co. 



JL 



J^ 



The Foldiiig Sfeir and TaUe fo, 



MANUFACTURERS OF 



@nteF and LibraFV ^^ibks 



Stands and Bookcases 



Send for Catalogue. 



^grand I^ipids;, ]ilkh 



-»>i 




WW. B REMINGTON, 

PRESIDENT. 



A. JUDD DAVIDSON, 

6EC'y AND TREA5. 




Wi«- A- W^'M 



PuFiiitui-e 




MANUFACTURERS 



T.\BLt:S 



giiK^ i (^abiiicl t\^aFC. 



© © ® ® ® ^ 



WM. A. BERKEY, W. H. JONES, 



rresuUiit. 



Vice Fresideju. 



LEWIS T. PECK, 

Setretiny tuiii Trcasttrer, 




w 



iFst-class in all its Appointment^-^ 





$2.50 to $4 00 Per Day. 



• * 



• • 



♦ ♦ ♦ 



• • 



• • 



• • 




iQrancl J^apids, KTicl]. 



T 



HE ONLY MANUFACTURERS OF 



-i~ 



• • • • 



ABSOLyTELY •• PORTABLE •:• ByiLDINGS, -^^ RESIDENCES, 

;: :: :: SUMMER COTTAGES, HUNTERS' CABINS, CHILDREN'S PLAYHOUSES 




jMW 




GRAND RAPIDS, MIGH.U,S.A. 



CAMP MEETING COTTAGES, 
® ® ® ® BATHING HOUSES, PHOTOGRAPH GALLERIES, CANDY STANDS, ETC. ® ® ® © 

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 

Its durability and utility commends it to all, while its light weight reduces cost of transportation. Set up and taken dmvn in from three to four 

hours anywhere. For descriptive matter, address with stamp, 

• • •• •• GRAND RAPIDS PORTABLE HOUSE CO., - GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN. •• •• •• 



w. 



elc]r[ Koldit^^ Bed Co, . 






T//£ ONLY EXCLUSIVE 






FOLDING BED MANUFACTURERS 

IN THE UNITED STATES 




"iwiJE^^^^S^^^^^ 




L. W. WELCH. 



W. S. EARLE. 






Grand Rapid s, MicHo 



• • • 



Mercantile Collectior\ Agency, 



H. D. G. VAN AS/nyS, Manager 



13 Canal Street, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. 



I i\ave for tl^e past ttiree years l:\aridled tl^e Collectioris of rqariy of tlr^e Graqd Rapids Mantlfacturers, 

arid anq prepared to do a General CoUectiori Business. 

g@" I collect Past Due Accounts, Matured Notes, Accepted Drafts, Etc., in any town in the 
United States and Canada, at a very SMALL COST, viz : from 3 to 10 per cent, commission, accord- 
ing to the case. 

My Collection facilities are the most effective. Not too hard upon the debtor. ' I act Promptly. 

Make Low Charges. Prompt Keturns. NO CH AKG-E Unless Claim is Collected 

(except suit has been ordered, and then only the costs.) 

Whenever a claim cannot be collected by first demands, it is at once placed in the hands of active, 

responsible attorneys, and is FOLLOWED UP with "PUSH" and PEOMPT work. 

SEND your Collections to above address. It will save you many accounts that by delay may 

become worthless. 




(Formerly Clark & Hodges.) 

JVLanUfactiirers of Fine Carved 
and T-a;ist 

il 

Gei^t'CF Tables, Eedestals = = 
= = = = and ©ffiee Desl5S 

grand Rapids '^k\. 



SEND FOR CATALOGUE. 



53 A. 55 S. FRONT ST. 



VENEERS 



Bl/AENSieN 

AND 

BeiRL # STOCK. 



/" 



\\\ 1)1 



"N 



Jig 



ASH, BIRD'S EYE MAPLE. OAK, CHERRY, BIRCH, Ig^^ 

BASSWOOD AND BLACK WALNUT i^' *" 



ALWAYS IN STOCK SOME VERY CHOICE BURLS. 

SEND FOR SAMPLES AXD PRICES. 



Grand I^ajDi^^ Ver\eer ai^cl Parcel Company 



A. B. WATSON. Presipent. 



NORTM FROXT STREET. 

CHAS. B. JL'DD, Sec'v and Treas. 



Z. C. THWING, Gen'l Manager. 



CHASE-.-BROTHERS-.-PIANOS. 



®= 



=® 



Tt\e rerrioval of tl^e CHHSE BROTHERS' PIHNO 
FHCTORY to Grand Rapids in dtlly, 1884, gives 
evidence of tl:\e superior facilities offered by ttiis 
city, botl:\ as a rqanUfacturing and sl:|ipping point. 
Ttie reputation of tl:ie CHHSE PIHNO ^4^as estab" 
lisfied over t-wenty years ago and to-day is one of tY\e 
best and rqcst favorably Kno'Wn Pianos in tl^e United 
States. Hrtists -were attracted to tl|ern by t]\eiY fine 
repeating action and tl:\e brilliant and resonant quality 
of tone, -wliile Musical Colleges Use tlierq for tl\eir 
fine singing quality and durability. Tl\ese Pianos 
are constructed on purely scientific principles, 
covered by ii\any Valuable patents, ttie Sounding 
Board being one of tl|e n\ost prorninerit features. Tl|e 
trade of ti\e Cl\ase Brotl)ers extends fronq Maine to 
California and tl^eir facilities for sl|ipping and tl^e 
rqanufacture of a first-class Piano are Undoubtedly 
better tl^an tl\ose of any Eastern nqanufacturer. 





The tone is clear, penetrating and expanding ; it comes out firm, 
prompt, decided and sonorous throughout. — Cincinnati Enquirer. 



Hnotl^er Triunqpl] for tlie Musical West. 

The Chase Pianos, so fast becoming popular in the musical world, 
have been introduced and are now used by the College of Music. Theo- 
dore Thomas will have none but the best in his college. The Chase 
Pianos combine sweetness with volume of tone, and are remarkable for 
their quality of durability — making them well adapted for college work. — 
Brainard's Musical World. 



These Pianos have a splendid reputation, and at the Ohio Slate Fair 
at Columbus took the first premium over the best Eastern manufactures. 
They undoubtedly occupy the front rank. — Maysvilli Republican. 



Of all the parts of a Chase Piano, none is treated with more atten- 
tion than the Sounding Board, which may be called the lungs of the Piano. 
Mr. Chase has given to this important member a vast amount of though' 
and skilllul experiment. The peculiar construction of the Chase Sounding 
Board has excited the admiration of all experts who have examined it 
critically. — The Musical People. 



GHASt BR0S. PIANO G2. 

OFFICE AND SALESROOM, No. 92 Monroe St. FACTORY, Nos. 61, 63, 65, 67, 69 and 71 South Front St. 

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN. 



, — « » ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUES SENT FREE UPON APPLICATION. TO ANY ADDRESS. » » — 




H 55- 78 "' 



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